Inter Milan 6-2 Crotone: Lautaro Martinez scores hat-trick as Antonio Conte's men go top of Serie A

After hitting six past Crotone, Inter Milan go top of Serie A on 36 points, two clear of AC Milan, who play later on Sunday. Crotone remain 19th with just two league wins all season. Roma beat Sampdoria to stay third while Piotr Zielinski scored twice to help Napoli ease past Cagliari.

Lautaro Martinez's first hat-trick for Inter Milan helped his side crush Crotone 6-2, earning their eighth successive Serie A win on Sunday and sending Antonio Conte's team top of the standings above AC Milan.

With their local rivals in action later on Sunday, Inter knew a win would see them go top, if only temporarily, but it was not looking promising as second-bottom Crotone took a shock 12th minute lead through Niccolo Zanellato.

However, Romelu Lukaku sent strike partner Martinez through to level eight minutes later, before an own goal from Luca Marrone put Inter in front. A Vladimir Golemic penalty then levelled things up once again.

Serie A

'We'll see where we are' - Pioli coy on future after Inter seal Scudetto

23/04/2024 at 09:14

With the quality Inter possess up front, it was only a matter of time until they put Crotone to the sword in the second half, with Martinez brilliantly giving Inter the lead in the 57th minute before Lukaku added another seven minutes later.

Martinez completed his first Inter hat-trick 12 minutes from time, before Achraf Hakimi put the icing on the cake with a late sixth.

Having seen Inter go top of the table, Roma looked set to fall behind in the title race as they laboured in torrential rain against Sampdoria, failing to create any real chances in the first half.

However, moments after former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling had headed against the crossbar, the 34-year-old Edin Dzeko scored his third goal in as many games in the 72nd minute to settle a tight contest and leave Roma six points off the top.

• Serie A table
• Serie A fixtures

Napoli, looking for their first win in four league games, moved back into the top four in style with a 4-1 thrashing of Cagliari.

Piotr Zielinski gave his side the lead with an arrowing, left-footed strike, before Joao Pedro equalised on the hour mark.

However, Zielinski was not done there, and he danced through the home backline two minutes later to put Napoli back in front, with a goal by Hirving Lozano and a penalty from Lorenzo Insigne making the victory more comfortable.

Can Christian Eriksen escape Inter Milan nightmare to Madrid? - Euro Papers

Serie A

Inter secure historic 20th title with derby victory over city rivals Milan

22/04/2024 at 21:34

Serie A

Serie A title and futures on the line as San Siro braces for Milan Derby for the ages

22/04/2024 at 07:39

Serie A

Cagliari equalise twice to deny Inter Milan victory late on

14/04/2024 at 22:39