Inter Milan will be confident when the Champions League resumes after consolidating its lead in Serie A with a 1-0 win over Udinese on Saturday.
Lautaro Martínez scored in the first half to put Inter six points ahead of second-placed AC Milan and defending champions Napoli, who defeated Sassuolo 1-0.
Milan receives the modest Lecce on Sunday. Inter welcomes Premier League leader Arsenal in the Champions League on Tuesday. With that crucial match looming, Cristian Chivu rotated his side again on Saturday, with Pio Esposito partnering Martinez.
Those two scored the opening goal in the 20th minute.
Piotr Sebastian Zielinski played a through ball into the penalty area for Esposito to slot the ball into the path of Martinez, who weaved his way across before drilling into the bottom right corner.
Federico Dimarco thought he had doubled Inter’s lead in the 61st after another assist from Esposito, but it was ruled out for offside.
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Napoli ended a run of three consecutive draws, but it could have come at a cost.
Stanislav Lobotka scored his first goal in more than three years, netting a rebound in the seventh minute after Sassuolo goalkeeper Arijanet Muric could only parry a shot from Eljif Elmas.
Elmas and Napoli teammate Amir Rrahmani came off injured in the second half.
Rrahmani’s will be more worrying as it appeared to be a muscle problem in his left thigh, while Elmas felt dizzy after taking a blow to the head.
Matteo Politano also appeared to have a muscle problem in stoppage time, but stayed on – albeit with little movement – as Napoli had used up all his substitutions.
Napoli is dangerously close to the elimination zone in the Champions League and will visit Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Published on January 18, 2026
