Inter Milan steadies the race to keep Series A leaders on toes

Inter Milan maintained their pursuit of Serie A leaders Napoli with a hard-earned 3-1 victory over Empoli on Sunday, closing the gap to just three points. The win, which took place at the San Siro, was secured in the second half thanks to goals from Lautaro Martinez, Denzel Dumfries, and Marcus Thuram. Despite a solid performance, Inter had to work hard for the three points against a determined Empoli side. Meanwhile, Napoli strengthened their position at the top of the table with a thrilling 3-2 win over Atalanta on Saturday. The victory pushed Napoli further ahead, but Atalanta's defeat leaves them seven points behind in third place.

Napoli's attacking prowess continues to shine, with their thrilling win showcasing the form that has made them the team to beat this season. However, Inter Milan still have a game in hand, which means the title race remains tight. With both teams in strong form, the championship battle between Napoli and Inter looks set to go down to the wire. As the season progresses, every point will count, and Inter's hard-fought victory over Empoli serves as a reminder that the defending champions are not willing to let go of their title aspirations without a fight.

Inter Milan face a congested fixture list as they juggle their Serie A title challenge with Champions League commitments. While Napoli, enjoying a break from European football after a poor title defence last season, can focus solely on the domestic league, Inter have a demanding schedule ahead. In addition to their final two Champions League group-stage matches against Sparta Prague and Monaco, Simone Inzaghi’s side must navigate the Milan derby, as well as tough away trips to Juventus, Napoli, and Atalanta, all before mid-March.

Inter captain Lautaro Martinez played a key role in their 3-1 win over Empoli, scoring a brilliant long-range goal in the 55th minute. This strike brought his tally to eight goals in 18 league appearances, a respectable return but still far from the 24 goals he netted last season as Inter secured their 20th Serie A title. With such a packed schedule, Martinez and his teammates will need to maintain peak performance levels to keep pace with Napoli at the top, especially as they contend with both domestic and European challenges.

Lautaro Martinez’s goal in Inter Milan's 3-1 win over Empoli marked a return to form at the San Siro, after a lengthy goal drought at home dating back to early November. This was his second consecutive goal in as many home matches, having previously scored in the 2-2 draw with Bologna. Martinez’s strike helped Inter maintain their title challenge, but the match was far from straightforward.

Denzel Dumfries played a crucial role with a powerful header from Kristjan Asllani’s corner in the 79th minute, which gave Inter a vital 2-1 lead. However, Empoli responded when Sebastiano Esposito, on loan from Inter, scored to halve the deficit, sparking a wave of anxiety among the home crowd. The situation became tense as Empoli pushed for an equaliser, but it was Marcus Thuram who eased the nerves in the 89th minute. His 13th league goal of the season sealed the win, ensuring that Inter's title defence remained on track despite a subpar performance. The victory helped keep them within touching distance of Serie A leaders Napoli.