Looking to secure back-to-back home victories in the Serie A, Pisa showed plenty of industry in their attacking efforts during the first half, but a lack of quality hampered them in the final third of the pitch. The visitors looked equally toothless in attack in the opening period, though, and they had to rely on set-pieces to create chances.
Hakan Calhanoglu’s pinpoint deliveries escaped the home defence on two occasions, but both Francesco Acerbi and Martinez missed the target with headers from promising positions in the box.
The home side created the first clear-cut chance of the half on 29 minutes, utilising a route one approach to get in behind the Inter defence. A long ball forward was flicked on by Idrissa Toure, but Gabriele Piccinini’s angled shot drifted just wide of the post as he came within inches of bagging his first Serie A goal.
Following a goalless first half, the hosts continued to push for the opener after the restart, and had the best chance of the game to that point, as M'Bala Nzola ran through on goal but took a bad touch before dragging his shot wide.
That missed opportunity would be punished in the 69th minute, as Inter seized possession in the Pisa half before Pio Esposito teed up Martinez, who provided a much-needed moment of class with his clinical first-time finish, which left Simone Scuffet with no chance.
That goal clearly dented the host’s confidence, and the win was secured with seven minutes to go, as Martinez struck again to turn Nicolo Barella’s cross into the net from close range.
Despite their six-game unbeaten sequence coming into the game, Pisa have still only won once in the league this season and remain in the bottom three as a result, whilst Inter move up to third, just one point behind leaders and city rivals AC Milan.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan)