Inter Milan edged past Genoa with a narrow 1-0 victory at San Siro on Saturday, February 22, 2025, allowing the Nerazzurri to momentarily ascend to the top of the Serie A standings. The match featured little action until the closing minutes when Lautaro Martinez's header from Hakan Calhanoglu's corner earned Inter the three points.
The opening half lacked the excitement fans had anticipated, with Inter struggling to penetrate Genoa's disciplined defense. Despite regaining possession with 63% control and launching 16 shots compared to Genoa's 11, the hosts could not convert their pressure to progress on the scoreboard, leaving the crowd at San Siro groaning as half-time approached.
Inter's coach, Simone Inzaghi, was under pressure after his team managed just one win from their previous four outings. The need for a win was significant, especially with high-stakes encounters looming, particularly against Napoli, the title rivals lurking below them on the table.
During the match, Joaquin Correa, who had been dealing with injury problems, departed the pitch at half-time, making way for Mehdi Taremi. This change did not instantly alter Inter's fortunes as both teams continued to cancel each other out.
It wasn't until the 65th minute when the first real chance emerged. Taremi’s strong effort from inside the box was blocked on the line, signaling the urgency for Inter, growing increasingly frustrated with Genoa's resolute defensive strategy. Nicolo Barella came close moments later, crashing a shot against the crossbar, stirring hopes for the home fans.
The match finally came alive when Martinez broke the deadlock with 12 minutes left to play. His well-timed header found the net after Calhanoglu’s corner kick, which sneaked under Genoa goalkeeper Nicola Leali. This solitary goal echoed through the stands, reigniting cheers as the home side celebrated the breakthrough.
Despite Genoa's attempts to carve out an equalizer, they fell short, leaving them perched at 12th place with 30 points. Meanwhile, Inter's victory brought them to 57 points, positioning them atop the Serie A table—just one point shy of Napoli, who faced Como the following day.
Lautaro Martinez’s contribution to the score sheet marked his 10th goal of the Serie A season, placing him alongside club icons like Roberto Boninsegna—now tied for sixth on Inter’s all-time goalscorers list. Martinez’s consistency at the top level was solidified with this achievement, making him the first foreign player to record 10 or more goals across six different Serie A campaigns for Inter.
With the match concluded, thoughts turned to the approaching face-off against Napoli—an encounter set to shape the title race significantly. Should Inter maintain this level of performance, they could solidify their lead and possibly pave the way for another Serie A title.
Inter’s fans left the San Siro with mixed feelings; the win was celebrated, yet the path to securing the title remained fraught with challenges. If this victory restored some confidence, it also served as a reminder of the work still needed to first maintain their place at the summit and later contend for the trophy.
Looking forward, as title aspirations begin to heat up, Inter has to keep pushing; their next match could be the weather vane as they stake their claim as true Serie A contenders.