Take note, Manchester City: lately it has been a case of the bigger the match, the bigger the performance from Lautaro Martinez.
After scoring key goals against Benfica and city rivals AC Milan to help secure Inter a spot in the Champions League final, Martinez netted twice as the Nerazzurri produced a 2-1 comeback win over Fiorentina to win the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.
It's the second trophy that Inter have won this season after also beating Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana in January — when Martinez also scored.
After a couple of matches to finish up Serie A, Martinez and Inter will be aiming for one more trophy when they face City in the Champions League final on June 10 in Istanbul.
Martinez now has a career-best 27 goals across all competitions for Inter this season, having also helped Argentina win the World Cup in December. He's also the only player to have appeared in all 54 of Inter's matches this season.
The match at the Stadio Olimpico was lively from the start as Nicolas Gonzalez put Fiorentina ahead three minutes in following a lapse by Inter's defense. A cross from Jonathan Ikone was allowed to float across the area for Gonzalez to knock in at the far post.
Then Martinez took over to put Inter ahead before the break.
First, a perfectly placed through ball from Marcelo Brozovic set up the equaliser as Martinez ran onto the pass and scored with an angled shot into the far corner for his 100th goal with Inter. Then he produced an acrobatic volley to redirect a pass from Nicolo Barella into the back of the net.
And it's another for Lautaro Martínez as he smashes home a volley! 🔥
— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) May 24, 2023
Inter's superstar striker has a first half double and this game has turned around before the break 👀 pic.twitter.com/P8nkBiLaUz
Martinez also nearly produced another goal when he set up Edin Dzeko with only the goalkeeper to beat but Dzeko's shot sailed high over the bar.
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi has now won seven of his eight finals as a manager, with this the ninth Italian Cup title for the club.
By reaching the final, Inter and Fiorentina had each already qualified for next season's expanded Super Cup, which will feature four teams including Serie A champions Napoli and the league runner-up. They will also play West Ham in the Europa Conference League final on June 7.
