Inter forward Lautaro Martínez booked his side's place in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday as the Nerazzurri staged a remarkable comeback against Como, overturning a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. The victory extends what is already shaping as a defining season for Cristian Chivu's Inter, who sit top of Serie A with 78 points from 33 matches.
The implications stretch beyond the cup run. Inter's goal difference — built on 78 goals scored against just 29 conceded — reveals structural defensive solidity rather than happenstance. A domestic double is now firmly within reach for a squad that has won 25 of its 33 league fixtures. Martínez is the driving force behind those figures.
In 26 Serie A outings this season, the 28-year-old Argentine has registered 16 goals and four assists, averaging a rating of 7.10 per match. That output — a goal or assist contribution every 1.3 appearances — is the hallmark of a striker who doesn't merely perform in pockets of form but shapes an entire campaign. Inter's title push hasn't relied on individual moments alone, yet Martínez's numbers form the bedrock of their success.
The Coppa Italia semi-final against Como laid bare something statistics struggle to convey: Inter's ability to absorb pressure and strike back decisively. Chivu framed it beforehand as an "all or nothing" affair, and the 3-2 scoreline — with the visitors twice pegged back — bore that out completely. Como coach Cesc Fabregas offered a candid appraisal afterwards, conceding his side are "not on the same level as Inter, but getting close." That's a more transparent acknowledgement of the gulf than most losing managers will admit.
With the league title within touching distance and a cup final secured, Martínez's overall rating of 75 out of 100 points to a player operating near his peak — not one coasting on past glories. Inter have also confirmed pre-season participation in the Hong Kong Football Festival, a commercial statement signalling ambitions that extend well beyond the domestic calendar.
The Nerazzurri face the season's run-in needing to safeguard what they've constructed. Martínez has given them every reason to believe the hard work is already in the bank.