Far from just scoring goals this season, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez has also led the way in several defensive statistics in Serie A.
This is highlighted in today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews.
Martinez’s eye-watering goal tally is certainly the thing that has earned him the most attention this season.
The Argentine has scored nineteen goals in Serie A so far this campaign. This includes scoring a remarkable four goals in one match against Salernitana, despite only coming off the bench at halftime.
Meanwhile, Martinez has scored 22 across all competitions.
But scoring goals is not all that Martinez is good for. The 26-year-old is also the player who acts as Inter’s “first line of defense” with his incessant pressing and workrate.
And as Tuttosport notes, the numbers bear this out.
Stats Show Lautaro Martinez Leads The Way In Defensive Statistics For Serie A Striker
Martinez has won the ball off an opponent a total of 28 times in Serie A this season.
In the Italian top flight, that is far and away the most times of any striker. Coming in at second is Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee, who has won the ball on sixteen occasions.
Meanwhile, Martinez has made a total of sixteen interceptions.
This further indicates the importance of the Nerazzurri captain to his team’s efforts to take possession in dangerous areas and set off on quick attacks.
The striker to have made the second-most interceptions in Serie A is Torino’s Antonio Sanabria.
The Paraguayan has made five interceptions in the league this season – less than a third of Martinez’s total.
Meanwhile, Martinez has made eighteen tackles in Serie A this season.
That is good enough for second among strikers, narrowly behind Zirkzee who has made nineteen.
And in terms of winning fouls, Martinez has bought his team a free kick on 25 occasions.
That is the fifth most in Serie A.
Heavy-hitters such as Lecce’s Nikola Krstovic, Udinese’s Lorenzo Lucca, Fiorentina’s M’Bala Nzola, and Hellas Verona’s Milan Djuric have all won between 26 and 29 fouls in the league this season.
