Inter Milan’s Twin Forwards Make History: Lautaro Martinez, the Super Sub with 18 Goals and 3 Assists

Inter Milan’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Salernitana has helped them quickly bounce back from their recent loss to Sassuolo, much to the chagrin of the so-called "Inter fans" who are quick to proclaim doomsday after a single defeat. This match showcased several highlights for the Nerazzurri, including timely substitutions by Simone Inzaghi that turned the game from a tense contest into a rout. Nicolo Barella notched his first statistical contribution of the season, and Carlos Augusto celebrated his first achievement in an Inter shirt. Additionally, the rotation of players revealed some pleasant surprises, such as Lucien Agoume, who, despite being almost forgotten, came off the bench to win critical duels and spark goal-scoring opportunities.

Thuram and Lautaro: The Dynamic Duo

The most significant highlights of this match, however, were the performances of Inter’s two forwards—Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez—both of whom set records. Thuram was instrumental in the victory, displaying his “professional winger” skills with a brilliant cross and winning a penalty that sealed the win for Inter. Some data agencies count winning a penalty as an assist, but officially, Thuram’s season tally remains at four assists, making him the current assist leader in Serie A. Since OPTA began collecting Serie A data in the 2004-05 season, no Inter player has achieved four assists in their first seven games, regardless of position.

But Thuram’s record pales in comparison to the night’s true hero, Lautaro Martinez. The Inter website humorously listed the MVP candidates for the match as “Lautaro, Lautaro, Lautaro, and Lautaro,” emphasizing his dominant performance. Martinez scored four goals, putting him at the top of the Serie A scoring charts and making him the second-highest scorer among Europe’s top five leagues, behind only Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy. Martinez also set a series of records, but two stand out prominently. Firstly, while hat-tricks are not uncommon in Serie A, Martinez is the first player in the three-points-per-win era to score four goals after coming off the bench. Secondly, since joining Serie A in 2018, Martinez has scored 18 goals and provided three assists in just 1,073 minutes as a substitute, averaging a goal or assist every 51 minutes. During this period, he ranks second on the overall “super sub” list in Serie A, behind Luis Muriel, who scored 21 goals in 1,911 minutes. However, in terms of efficiency, no one can match Martinez.

Martinez: The Ultimate Super Sub

Last season highlighted Martinez’s prowess as a super sub. He played a total of 2,576 minutes in Serie A, with 2,276 minutes as a starter, scoring 15 goals, averaging a goal every 151.73 minutes—a top-tier performance in Serie A. In contrast, during the 300 minutes he played as a substitute, Martinez scored six goals and provided an assist, averaging a goal every 50 minutes, a world-class rate. The season before, he played only 153 minutes as a substitute, scoring three goals and providing an assist. Overall, since joining Inter, Martinez has played 10,700 minutes as a starter in Serie A, scoring 66 goals, averaging a goal every 162.1 minutes. However, his efficiency as a substitute is remarkable, with a goal every 59.6 minutes—nearly three times better. When is Martinez most terrifying for opponents? When he is warming up on the sidelines, ready to come on.

The Rise of Thuram-Lautaro Partnership

Western social media is abuzz with fans proclaiming the “ThuLa combination” as the top duo in Serie A, surpassing the previous “LuLa combination” of Lukaku and Lautaro. In the first seven rounds of Serie A, Thuram assisted and Martinez scored twice, placing them among the league’s top partnerships, alongside combinations like Giroud and Leao at Milan, Politano and Osimhen at Napoli, and Thuram and Denzel Dumfries at Inter. After the match, Martinez praised Thuram, calling him “a great guy.” During the summer, many worried that Martinez would struggle without Lukaku. In reality, without Martinez, Lukaku is facing difficulties, but with Thuram, Martinez continues to thrive. The ability to form such a formidable partnership is a testament to Martinez’s value as Inter’s captain.

Inter’s Depth Issues

Despite the dominant victory, Inter’s two star forwards' excellence also highlights a potential issue. Thuram’s contributions are undeniable—whether in teamwork or individual performance—but he was visibly exhausted in the second half of this match, and there was no one to replace him. Martinez’s impact is even more significant—everyone knows that occasionally starting him on the bench and bringing him on to exploit tired defenders can be highly effective. However, Inter lacks a sufficiently reliable substitute striker to allow for Martinez’s rotation. The failure to secure Joaquin Correa and the untimely injury to Marko Arnautović have been significant setbacks. The hope now lies in Alexis Sanchez finding his form quickly and Simone Inzaghi finding other solutions.

Moving Forward

The comprehensive victory over Salernitana proves that losing to Sassuolo does not spell disaster for Inter Milan. However, the club must remain level-headed. If they aim for their second star, representing a 20th Serie A title, the road ahead will be fraught with challenges. The impressive performances of Thuram and Martinez offer hope and demonstrate that Inter has the firepower to compete at the highest level, but the team’s depth will be tested as the season progresses.

The Spirit of Inter

In this context, Inter’s resilience and determination come to the fore. The club’s ability to integrate new players, maintain high performance levels, and overcome adversities underscores their championship credentials. As they navigate the challenges of the Serie A season and their European commitments, the combined efforts of experienced stars and new signings will be crucial.

The blue and black of Inter symbolize the team’s dream and the obstacles they must overcome. Despite the challenges, Inter’s unwavering spirit and the individual brilliance of players like Thuram and Martinez give them a fighting chance in every competition. The road to the second star is long and winding, but with their current form and the leadership of their captain, Inter Milan can look forward to the journey ahead with confidence.