The Japan Times - Skipper Martinez fires Inter past Udinese and six points clear

Lautaro Martinez expertly poked home the winner in the 20th minute in Udine to continue Inter's eight-match unbeaten run in Italy's top flight.

Inter have collected 25 points from a possible 27 since losing the Milan derby the end of November and again showed a ruthlessness in dispatching the also-rans that both AC Milan and Napoli have lacked.

Napoli take on Sassuolo in Saturday's next fixture after three straight draws have left the champions in third, nine points off the Scudetto pace.

Second-placed Milan host Lecce on Sunday night with a six-point gap separating them from local rivals Inter even though the seven-time European champions haven't lost since the opening day of the season.

Massimiliano Allegri's side have dropped a host of points to teams they should beat, starting back in August against Jamie Vardy's Cremonese who remain the only team to get three points from Milan.

Inter meanwhile have the opposite problem, with a poor track record in matches against high-profile opposition, a weakness which will be tested by Premier League leaders Arsenal on Tuesday night.

Four straight wins at the start of the league phase of the Champions League were followed up by two defeats which have left direct qualification for the last-16 in doubt.

Juventus, in fourth, trail Inter by 10 points but have been improving under Luciano Spalletti and are heavy favourites to win at Cagliari in the day's late match.

Y.Watanabe--JT