Inter will have to navigate a demanding stretch of the Serie A season without captain Lautaro Martinez after the forward sustained a muscle problem during the 4-3 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge.
The Argentinian left the European match in discomfort and underwent medical examinations at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano. The tests identified a muscle issue in the flexors of his left thigh, forcing coach Cristian Chivu to make plans without his leading striker at a delicate point in the calendar.
A difficult run for Chivu
Martinez is certain to miss Inter’s league meeting with Bologna, while the injury is also set to rule him out of the club’s following closely scheduled fixtures. That sequence includes the derby against Milan and the match with Como.
His absence removes both Inter’s captain and one of Chivu’s principal attacking reference points as the championship enters a period in which results can quickly alter the mood around the leading sides.
Atalanta target after the break
Inter are hoping Martinez can return after the next international break. The match against Atalanta on 22 November has been identified as a possible date for his availability, although his recovery will determine whether he is ready to rejoin the squad by then.
For now, Chivu must manage the immediate Serie A programme without his captain, with the Bologna fixture beginning a spell that will test Inter’s depth before the season reaches its next turning point.
