Serie A Top Clash: Lukaku and Lautaro Struggle as Zero-Shot Stars, But for Different Reasons

Following a hard-fought and fiercely contested 1-1 draw, Inter Milan and Napoli wrapped up a thrilling top-of-the-table Serie A showdown. Inter completed a grueling 21-day stretch of seven matches with a commendable record of five wins and two draws. By beating teams like Roma and Arsenal while drawing against Juventus and Napoli, Inter achieved a respectable outcome. However, missing a penalty in a match with a 13-5 shot advantage left Inter with a hint of disappointment, as they missed an opportunity for three points. Currently, the top six teams in Serie A are tightly bunched, making Inter’s quest to defend the title an uphill journey.

For this clash, two players received the most praise—Buonocore for Napoli and Acerbi for Inter—while two also took the most criticism: Lukaku and Lautaro. Both Inter’s current captain and former forward, once an iconic duo, struggled to make an impact. Many expected Lautaro, especially, to have a point to prove against his former teammate after their bitter summer split. Instead, both stars delivered underwhelming performances, with no shots on target. Yet, a deeper look reveals stark contrasts in their struggles.

Inter’s Defensive Strategy: Acerbi vs. Lukaku

Inter’s starting lineup was largely predictable, with the only question mark being who would start alongside Stefan de Vrij in the backline. Inzaghi ultimately selected veteran Francesco Acerbi with a clear mission: neutralize Lukaku. Over the course of the game, Acerbi managed 79 touches, completing 66 passes with a 92% accuracy rate, winning four of his six duels, and racking up four interceptions, three clearances, and two recoveries. He even recorded a successful dribble. For these efforts, Acerbi received Inter’s highest player rating from several media outlets, and most importantly, he successfully contained Lukaku.

Acerbi’s dominance led to Lukaku’s complete shutout performance. The Belgian forward ended the match with no shots, no key passes, and no successful tackles. His duel with Acerbi became a frustrating cycle of lost possessions and failed touches. Despite playing 77 minutes, Lukaku only managed 22 touches and lost possession seven times. Restricted to just one touch in the penalty area, he was thoroughly neutralized by Inter’s disciplined defensive setup.

Belgian media had praised Lukaku’s contributions to Roma ahead of the match, highlighting his four goals and four assists in Serie A’s first 10 games. But up against Acerbi, the former Inter star couldn’t muster any significant threat, falling short of the hype. His ineffective performance left Inter fans unimpressed, especially given his controversial exit last season, during which he dodged the club’s calls and ultimately left for Roma.

Lautaro's Tactical Role and Exhaustion

Lautaro Martínez entered this game eager to prove a point against his former strike partner, but he too struggled. Playing a scoreless game with zero shots on target, Lautaro’s performance drew a particularly harsh 5.0 rating from Gazzetta dello Sport, the lowest in the match. Although he saw more involvement than Lukaku, his impact was limited. Lautaro managed two shots, neither on target, while completing only 13 passes from 33 touches and winning just four of his nine duels.

One significant factor in Lautaro’s quiet performance was Napoli’s rock-solid center-back Juan Jesus, who controlled Lautaro with effective marking. Tactically, however, some analysts argue that Lautaro’s varying roles in each half affected his performance. In the first half, he played in a withdrawn position behind Marcus Thuram, tasked with linking play from deeper positions—a role resembling a “No. 10” that required frequent ball-carrying and physical duels. This heavy-lifting role took a toll on his stamina, especially after a demanding run of games.

The one moment Lautaro found himself in the box with a chance came in the 27th minute, but his attempt missed the target. In the second half, he shifted into a more traditional forward role, with more touches in Napoli’s penalty area. Despite this, his lack of rest began to show. Having played seven games in 21 days (six as a starter), he missed several opportunities, including an offside shot in the 83rd minute. By the game’s final stages, Lautaro was visibly fatigued, highlighting the cumulative toll of his packed schedule.

Fatigue and the Impact on Inter’s Strikers

While Lukaku’s lackluster display was due to Acerbi’s masterclass and Roma’s underwhelming support, Lautaro’s slump stems from pure fatigue. Inter’s heavy reliance on their captain in both domestic and European competitions has taken its toll. Over this 21-day period, Lautaro netted just three goals with one assist, a figure that shows how physically drained he’s become. During this stretch, he played nearly the entire matches against Juventus and Napoli, put in high-effort shifts against Roma and Arsenal, and was counted on to deliver crucial results against Empoli and other teams.

Simone Inzaghi’s limited rotation options have exacerbated this issue. Striker Mehdi Taremi ranks second on the team in Champions League minutes, yet he’s only 17th in Serie A minutes, indicating the coach’s reluctance to use him more in domestic play. Meanwhile, strikers Marko Arnautović and Joaquín Correa haven’t been viable backup options; Arnautović, particularly, has struggled with an eye infection. Inter’s lack of attacking depth has led to overuse of their star forwards, with Lautaro and Thuram logging heavy minutes that are beginning to show in their recent performances.

This pattern has led Italian media to revisit a crucial question: should Inter consider making reinforcements in the winter transfer window? With the league standings so tightly contested and their Champions League campaign ongoing, depth issues in the forward line could hinder Inter’s ambitions. As early as September, sports journalist Fabio Biasin reported that Inter’s directors Marotta and Ausilio had asked Inzaghi to evaluate the squad’s needs over three months. Now, 2.5 months later, the answer is clear—Inter needs additional attacking options.

Looking Forward

The next few months will be critical for Inter as they look to compete on multiple fronts. Lautaro’s burnout and the lack of reliable depth options make a compelling case for an additional forward in January. While the club has made an impressive run so far, consistent performances from their strikers will be essential if they are to sustain their title challenge in a highly competitive Serie A season.