Martinez keeps Inter on course for top-eight spot
Lautaro Martinez's first-half strike sealed a 1-0 win for Inter Milan over Sparta Prague in the UEFA Champions League, keeping it on course for a top-eight spot.
The visitors bounced back from defeat to Bayer Leverkusen last time out in the competition to move up to fourth on the table.
Martinez volleyed home at the back post from the tightest of angles in the 12th minute, connecting with Alessandro Bastoni's cross. The ball bounced up and in off the underside of the crossbar, giving Peter Vindahl no chance.
The Argentinean's 14th goal time in the competition means he is now Inter's joint-best goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League, level with Adriano.
The home side, which is now out of contention for a play-off place, offered little in the way of goal threat, falling to a fifth consecutive defeat in the competition.
Despite Sparta's second-half improvement, it almost fell to a larger defeat as Denzel Dumfries neatly tucked the ball into the back of the net, only for it to be disallowed for offside after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
After keeping a sixth clean sheet in the competition, Inter can have confidence going into its final fixture next week, where it can seal an automatic Round of 16 place with a home win over Monaco.
Martinez talked of his pride after the match, especially after sealing his goal-scoring record.
"I am full of pride, great players in Inter's history have passed through this competition, so having reached this milestone is important," Martinez said.
"I have to continue to work and score goals. Football is like this, we have to continue to take everything we can.
"It was a game in which, having few points, they [Sparta Prague] had nothing to lose. In the first half, we were good, we found spaces and created chances, then we conceded a little [possession] to them.
"On the goal, I first slipped out to the edge of the penalty area to make the play, then Bastoni put the cross and I arrived."
Martinez had not scored for six games prior to his recent purple patch but says he never lost faith.
"I worked harder, that's the secret: when things don't go well, you have to put your head down. I learned it as a child from my father, who loved this sport. I work twice as hard and it pays off on the pitch."
