Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez gave the good, the bad, and the ugly with his performance against Bologna yesterday.
Today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, note that the 26-year-old was both the scorer of a highly memorable goal, but also culpable for letting Bologna back into the match by conceding a penalty.
It has, by and large, been a very good start to the season for Inter captain Martinez.
The Argentine is wearing the armband on a permanent basis for the first time. He inherited it from Samir Handanovic during the summer.
And Martinez has thrived with the new responsibility.
The 26-year-old had already scored nine goals in Serie A and ten goals in all competitions prior to kickoff yesterday.
And he made it ten with his thunderous effort for the Nerazzurri’s second. There was little that Rossoblu keeper Lukasz Skoprupski could do to stop Martinez’s strike.
It was certainly one of the better goals that the Argentine has scored for Inter. And it meant that he has already hit double figures in Serie A before the start of the international break.
Lautaro Martinez The Hero & The Villain Vs Bologna
Coming after the start to the season that Martinez has had, that goal looked like an indication that he can do no wrong in this moment of form.
But then just a couple minutes later, the Inter captain did in fact err. And he did so in a costly manner.
It was Martinez who unnecessarily brought down Bologna midfielder Lewis Ferguson in the penalty area.
The Argentine was not the only player culpable for the penalty, as Inter coach Simone Inzaghi was quick to point out.
But it was undoubtedly a very naive moment from the Nerazzurri skipper.
And the timing could hardly have been worse.
Inter had raced to an early two-goal advantage. And they needed to keep their grip on the game rather than offering the Rossoblu a way back in.
Martinez, as the captain, needed to set the tone – something he so often does.
But on this occasion, it was a bad moment from the 26-year-old which gave the Rossoblu just the lift that they needed to feel that there might be something for them in the match after all.
It was all the more unfortunate coming after Martinez’s goal. The quality of his strike may well have made Bologna feel that it just wasn’t their day.
