INTER STATS | The return of Lu - La and opening home fixtures

MILAN – Inter made it two wins from two at the start of the new Serie A season, beating Spezia with a dominant performance at San Siro that produced some interesting statistics:

LU-LA IS BACK

Lautaro Martinez has scored a goal in two of Inter’s last three opening home fixtures of the season in Serie A, with these coming against Spezia and Fiorentina. El Toro hadn’t scored from outside of the box in the Italian top flight since that match against Fiorentina, which was Inter’s first game at San Siro in the 2020/21 season.

Romelu Lukaku provided the assist for Lautaro’s goal, and it’s the seventh time that Big Rom has set up El Toro to score in Serie A. It was the Belgian’s first assist in the Italian top flight since Inter’s 3-1 home victory over Roma in May 2021 (Matias Vecino with the goal).

CALHA AND OPENING HOME FIXTURES

Hakan Calhanoglu scored Inter’s second against Spezia. Excluding goals from penalties, it was the Turk’s first goal from inside the box in a Nerazzurri shirt (out of a total of eight). Calhanoglu has now scored in both of Inter’s first home league fixtures in the last two years, first against Genoa in 2021/22 and now against Spezia.

DIMARCO 50

Against Spezia, Federico Dimarco made his 50th appearance for Inter in all competitions.

ONGOING WINNING STREAK

Including the end of last season, Inter have won seven consecutive matches in all competitions for the first time under Simone Inzaghi’s stewardship.