Lautaro Double Helps Inter Rout Roma 5-2 to Restore Serie A Advantage

For four matches across all competitions, Inter Milan had forgotten how to win. The lead that once felt insurmountable had been whittled down from ten points to six. The international break arrived at exactly the right time.

And on Sunday, their talisman came home.

Lautaro Martínez, sidelined since February, walked onto the San Siro pitch and reminded everyone why Inter are still the team to beat in Serie A. Two goals, one in the second minute, another in the 52nd, powered Inter to a 5-2 demolition of Roma that felt less like a victory and more like a statement.

"He's back," the scoreline seemed to say. "And so are we."

Hakan Calhanoglu, fresh off helping Turkey qualify for the World Cup, added a goal of his own. Marcus Thuram and Nicolò Barella got in on the act too. Roma's Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini scored on either side of the onslaught, but they were footnotes in a story that belonged entirely to Inter.

With the win, Inter moved nine points clear of AC Milan and 10 ahead of defending champion Napoli, who face Milan on Monday. The cushion is restored. The chase is back on.

And Lautaro Martínez, the bull, is leading the charge once more.