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Martinez double at Pisa keeps Inter on heels of Serie A leaders AC Milan / Photo: © AFP
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Martinez double at Pisa keeps Inter on heels of Serie A leaders AC Milan
Lautaro Martinez fired Inter Milan to within a point of the Serie A summit with both goals in Sunday's 2-0 win at promoted Pisa, ahead of Napoli's clash at Scudetto rivals Roma.
Argentina striker Martinez smashed home Pio Esposito's low cross in the 69th minute and then ensured Inter would stay on the heels of local rivals AC Milan when he tapped in from close range with seven minutes remaining.
But that small gap to the top could be extended as second-placed Roma host the champions in Sunday's headline fixture.
Level on 27 points with Inter, Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma will reclaim top spot with a win over injury-hit Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico.
Martinez's goals took him to 10 in all competitions and saved Inter's blushes, as Cristian Chivu's side were sluggish at the Arena Garibaldi which is a stone's throw from Pisa's world-famous leaning tower.
A last-gasp loss to Atletico Madrid midweek and derby defeat last weekend had Inter reeling and although Sunday's three points will be welcome the overall performance was not encouraging.
Pisa, who sit in the bottom three after just one win from their 13 league fixtures, had the better of the chances before Martinez's perfectly hit first-time strike broke the deadlock.
Atalanta coach Raffaele Palladino will face his old team Fiorentina in Sunday's other game, following a thumping victory at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League.
M. Taylor--BTZ
