Inter Milan eyes a lift as Lautaro Martínez nears return against Fiorentina
Inter Milan has clearly missed Lautaro Martínez. Lautaro was back training this week as he recovers from a calf injury sustained in the first leg of Inter’s Champions League playoff exit to Bodø/Glimt. In the absence of its talismanic captain and record goalscorer, Inter has won just two of its six matches.
MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan has clearly missed Lautaro Martínez. But the Argentine World Cup winner could return this weekend to boost the Nerazzurri’s title charge. Lautaro was back training this week as he recovers from a calf injury sustained in the first leg of Inter’s Champions League playoff exit to Bodø/Glimt .
In the absence of its talismanic captain and record goalscorer, Inter has won just two of its six matches. The Nerazzurri are also winless in their past three games and are looking for a confidence boost at a resurgent Fiorentina on Sunday. Lautaro’s recovery is being monitored daily and the forward is expected to start on the bench in Florence.
Cristian Chivu’s team has an eight-point lead over second-place AC Milan, although just two weeks ago Inter was hoping to go 13 points clear with a victory in the derby — which was won by Milan instead to slash the gap. Key matchups Milan missed an opportunity last Sunday to reopen the title race. After Inter drew with Atalanta the previous evening, Milan could have cut the gap to five points with a win at Lazio.
Instead, it lost and is looking over its shoulder at third-place Napoli. Milan hosts Torino on Saturday. Napoli, which is one point behind Milan, plays at Cagliari on Friday.