Inter Milan 2-0 AC Monza – Lautaro Martinez on target as new captain to give hosts valuable victory

Inter Milan eased to an opening-day win over AC Monza in Serie A, with new captain fantastic Lautaro Martinez stealing a brace in his first game leading the side.

It was a smash-and-grab goal that gave Inter an early lead, with the ever-dangerous Denzel Dumfries finding space on the right-flank and rolled a ball to across the box; Martinez showed the instinct that made him top scorer for the Nerazzuri last season, ghosting off Danilo D’Ambrosio’s shoulder to latch onto the pass and stroke it into the bottom-left corner.

It was a game of few chances with Inter content to sit back and allow a toothless Monza to try and break them down, but were unable to make the visitors pay on the break.

That was, until newly-arrived Marko Arnautovic came off the bench to tease a curling low cross towards the back post where Martinez found himself totally unmarked and was able to connect on the slide and double Inter’s lead.

Arnautovic proved an inspired substitution as he lit up what had been a dull affair up to that point. Only given 35 minutes on the field, he seemed to constantly find himself in space around the penalty area and was unlucky not to finish with a goal and another assist.

The pivot that Inter’s changed forward line operated around at the end, Arnautovic could be in contention to start next time out against Cagliari.

For their part, Monza struggled to fashion any cast-iron chances despite enjoying plenty of possession. Wing-backs Giorgos Kyriakopoulos and Patrick Cuirra saw plenty of the ball particularly in the second half, but Monza’s forwards rarely found space in the danger areas, and weren’t accurate enough with their shooting when they did.

When substitute Valentin Carboni looked like he was trying to fire the ball to the moon from nine yards out deep in added time, it summed up the visitors’ evening.

It was a busy summer for Inter Milan, with Andre Onana, Samir Handanovic, Marcelo Brozovic, Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku all departing.

Yann Sommer was the veteran replacement between the sticks plus while loanee Francesco Acerbi made a permanent switch to the club and Marcus Thuram was a steal for free.

Sommer had very little to do against an impotent Monza while Thuram proved industrious in the final third without actually creating much in the way of end product.

Inter had plenty of chances to pepper the Monza goal but rarely broke the opposition open, and their two scores had more to do with Martinez’s nose for goal and telepathy with Arnautovic and Dumfries.

Inter remain a work in progress.

Who else? Martinez’s two goals proved the deciding factor in a game of few chances, and both were trademark poachers’ finishes of the best variety.

The Argentine showed his striker’s instinct hasn’t diminished over the summer as he just drifted off his marker on both occasions – in front of D’Ambrosio early on and behind Luca Caldirola at the death to end the contest.

In between Martinez was largely anonymous, playing almost as a second striker with Thuram leading the line. But he popped up when it mattered most, getting his captaincy off to the perfect start.

Inter: Sommer 6, Darmian 6, De Vrij 6, Bastoni 6, Dumfries 8, Barella 7, Calhanoglu 7, Mkhitaryan 6, Dimarco 7, Thuram 7, Martinez 8

Subs: Cuadrado 6, Arnautovic 8, Frattesi 6, Carlos Augusto 7, Bisseck 7

Monza: Di Gregorio 6, D’Ambrisio 6, Pablo Mari 6, Caldirola 5, Ciurria 5, Gagliardini 6, Pessina 5, Kyriakopoulos 7, Colpani 7, Caprari 5, Maric 6

Subs: Machin 5, Mota 6, Birindelli 6, Pererira 6, V Carboni 6

5’ – Inter squander first big chance: The ball broke for Marcus Thuram who could’ve made an immediate impact on the scoresheet for his new club, but his shot was blocked and bounced to Henrikh Mkhitaryan. However, the Armenian’s shot went just over, above an outstretched Michele Di Gregario.

8’ GOAL!!! Inter Milan 1-0 AC Monza: New captain Lautaro Martinez wasted no time making his mark on the team. The goal came from nothing really, Denzel Dumfries rolled a miracle ball into the box and Martinez was lightning-quick off the last defender, Danilo D’Ambrosio, to dart in and roll it past Michele Di Gregario in the Monza net.

75’ – Can Monza find a hero? With 15 minutes to go, Monza need to step it up here.

76’ – GOAL!!! Inter Milan 2-0 AC Monza – Just as I’m writing that, Inter double their lead – and it’s that man again. Lautaro Martinez has been anonymous for large parts of the game but he’s stepped up when required. This time Marko Arnautovic got space on the flank and whipped in a low cross, and no one tracked the captain’s run as his sliding effort makes it 2-0.

88’ – Arnautovic involved again! Marko Arnautovic is certainly determined to stamp his name all over this fixture. This time it’s a delightful backheel that sets Carlos Augusto free, he tried to square it but might’ve been better going for goal himself as his pass was blocked.

90 – Guess who? Where has Arnautovic been all game? He’s only been on the field for about 20 minutes but has proven the most exciting player of the evening, he again found himself free in the box and tried to play in Mkhitaryan but has to settle for a corner.

11 years since Inter last lost their first home game of the season – a 3-1 defeat by Roma in 2012 as Dani Osvaldo scored a goal and earned a red card.

12 shots for Monza, only two of which were on target.