Lautaro Martinez to Sit Out His First Match in Ages

After 200 days, Lautaro Martinez will have to miss a game, likely two. He pulled his left adductor in the Coppa Italia tilt versus Bologna, Inter informed. The tests ruled out a strain that would have knocked him out for longer. He’ll be unavailable against Lecce on Saturday and probably versus Genoa next week as well, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

While the problem is minor and routine, it’ll be odd for Inter not to have their biggest star considering his streak of uninterrupted appearances. It’s also the first time this season that either he or Marcus Thuram won’t be an option.

Simone Inzaghi will have to trust one of their backups sans Lautaro Martinez. Marko Arnautovic is more likely to start than Alexis Sanchez, as the latter is returning from a muscular issue of his own.

According to the publication, while the two reserves have been less than satisfying, the Nerazzurri aren’t thinking about adding a new striker. They’d have room only if one of the two left. They have been linked to Mehdi Taremi and Luis Muriel.

Our Take on Lautaro Martinez and the Inter Attack

Arnautovic and Sanchez were in the difficult spot of having to produce in limited minutes and haven’t lived up to the task. If one steps up without their ace, the team’s concerns will be quelled, and they will have a quiet January up front. The Austrian is one to monitor considering the delayed formula they employed to sign him from Bologna.