Serie A Roundup: Lautaro’s Strike Sees Inter Milan Past Udinese While AC Milan Edge Relegation-Threatened Lecce

‎The latest Serie A weekend delivered drama, emotion, and crucial points for clubs across the table.

‎From Inter Milan’s continued dominance at the top to heartfelt tributes to Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso, the Italian top flight had it all.

‎Here’s a detailed breakdown of the weekend’s action.

Inter Milan Maintains Momentum with Hard-Fought Win at Udinese

‎Inter Milan continued their impressive run in Serie A, securing a 1-0 victory over Udinese at Dacia Arena.

‎Lautaro Martínez’s 20th-minute strike proved decisive, extending Inter’s unbeaten league run to nine matches, with eight wins.

‎The visitors pressed from the start, with Martínez testing the goalkeeper early and Federico Dimarco’s volley narrowly missing the target.

‎Inter’s persistence paid off when Piotr Zielinski delivered a clever ball into the box, which Pio Esposito backheeled to Martínez. The Argentine striker twisted and turned before slotting the ball into the bottom corner, giving Inter an early lead.

‎The game was played in a somber atmosphere, with a minute’s silence held in memory of Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso, whose passing was announced on Saturday.

‎Inter now sits atop the Serie A table with 49 points, six ahead of both AC Milan, who host Lecce on Sunday, and Napoli, who ended a three-match draw streak with a 1-0 win over Sassuolo.

‎Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka volleyed home a rebound in the seventh minute to secure victory, giving the defending champions a crucial three points.

‎Juventus Stumble at Cagliari as Title Hopes Fade

‎Juventus’s title ambitions suffered another setback as they were held to a 1-0 defeat at Cagliari. Despite dominating possession, Juve struggled to convert chances, leaving them with yet another frustrating result.

‎Cagliari, who had not registered a shot in the first half, stunned the visitors when Luca Mazzitelli struck in the 65th minute to end Juventus’s six-game unbeaten run.

‎The win lifted Cagliari eight points clear of the relegation zone, a vital boost in their survival battle.

‎Donyell Malen Shines on Roma Debut

‎Roma welcomed new signing Donyell Malen with a goal as the Dutch forward helped the capital club secure a 2-0 win over Torino, consolidating fourth place in Serie A.

‎Malen, who joined Roma on loan from Aston Villa with an option to buy, was thrown straight into the starting lineup. He initially had a goal ruled out for offside but combined with Paulo Dybala just three minutes later to slot home the opening goal.

‎Dybala himself added a second in the 72nd minute after his initial effort was parried by Torino goalkeeper Alberto Paleari.

‎The victory also served as redemption for Roma, avenging their midweek defeat to Torino in the Italian Cup. Malen’s goal was a special birthday present, coming just one day before his 27th birthday.

‎AC Milan End Goal Drought with Füllkrug’s Late Winner

‎AC Milan moved within three points of Serie A leaders Inter thanks to a dramatic 1-0 win over relegation-threatened Lecce.

‎New signing Niclas Füllkrug ended a nearly year-long goal drought, scoring in the 76th minute after being introduced as a substitute for Christian Pulisic.

‎The German striker, on loan from West Ham, connected with a cross from Alexis Saelemaekers to head the ball into the bottom corner. Pulisic had earlier come close twice but was denied by Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone, who made several fine saves.

‎The result plunged Lecce into the relegation zone, just below Fiorentina on goal difference, and marked an important boost for Milan’s Serie A campaign.

‎Fiorentina Honor Rocco Commisso

‎Fiorentina’s 2-1 victory over Bologna carried a deeper significance as the team paid tribute to owner Rocco Commisso, who passed away on Saturday.

‎The squad warmed up in shirts featuring Commisso’s photo, “1 Rocco” on the back, and “Grazie Rocco” on the front.

‎A minute’s silence preceded kickoff, and black armbands were worn by the players, while fans displayed banners honoring Commisso.

‎Fiorentina’s Rolando Mandragora opened the scoring in the 19th minute and celebrated by holding up a special “Rocco” jersey. Roberto Piccoli doubled the lead just before halftime after a VAR review overturned an initial offside call.

‎Bologna’s Giovanni Fabbian scored a late consolation, but the hosts slipped down the table following a disappointing run of one win in 10 Serie A games.

‎Parma and Genoa Share Spoils

‎In another tense relegation clash, Parma and Genoa played out a 0-0 draw, a result that left Genoa three points above the drop zone and Parma three points below.

‎Both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in a match defined by defensive resilience and nerves.