Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has managed a goalscoring feat previously unheard of in Serie A with his four goals in 27 minutes against Salernitana yesterday evening.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews. The newspaper note that Martinez is the first player to score four goals as a substitute in the Italian top flight during the three-points-for-a-win era.
For the first time this season, Martinez did not start a match for Inter.
The Argentine had always been in the lineup in the team’s previous six Serie A matches. He had also started against Real Sociedad in the Champions League group stage opener.
Martinez has typically played the full ninety minutes for Inter this season, or at least the lion’s share.
Against Salernitana, by contrast, the 26-year-old got less than 45 minutes on the pitch.
But Martinez took full advantage of the time that he did have. The Inter captain’s goal haul was his largest of the campaign so far, and in fact his best in an Inter shirt.
Lautaro Martinez Breaks Statistical Record With Four-Goal Haul Vs Salernitana
Martinez showed that it’s possible for a striker to score just as prolifically in a second-half appearance from the bench as it is from the start.
While Inter had been looking a big turgid prior to their captain’s arrival, he nearly instantly unlocked the match.
As the Salernitana legs began to tire, Martinez’s technical precision, energy, physicality, and clever movement overwhelmed the Granata.
The Inter captain scored the first goal of the match within nine minutes of his introduction.
Then, it took just 27 more minutes for Martinez to expand that total by three.
The Nerazzurri captain is far from the first player to score four goals in a single Serie A match.
But anyone to have previously done it during the three-points-for-a-win era has gotten the chance to play from the start.
Martinez, on the other hand, had to settle for less than half the match. But he certainly did not let that stop him.
