Is this football’s newest bromance? ‘Greatest pair’ Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez combine for three goals in Inter Milan’s win at Slavia Prague, hold hands on the pitch and celebrate in the dressing room… while wearing matching dog jumpers!
Inter Milan have boasted some formidable strikers over the years and it appears that the Italian giants have another devastating partnership up top.
Antonio Conte’s side revived their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League after winning 3-1 at Slavia Prague on Wednesday night.
Romelu Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez were the goalscorers for Inter as their fledgling partnership continues to grow.
Romelu Lukaku (left) and Lautaro Martinez shone for Inter Milan in their win at Slavia Prague
The duo are on the front cover of Italian publications following their Champions League win
Their displays lead the coverage on both La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport on Thursday.
The former publication dubs them as the ‘Greatest Pair’ hailing their ‘extraordinary understanding’.
They further underline their bond by using a picture of the pair together holding hands in celebration on their front cover – which is highlighted by a mocked-up love heart.
Corriere dello Sport simply states that Inter are ‘Giants’ after their win in Prague.
Martinez and Lukaku have only been team-mates for a matter of months – when the latter arrived to the San Siro from Manchester United on August 8.
However, it’s clear that they are close on-and-off the pitch with Lukaku taking to Instagram on Thursday to show the duo wearing matching dog jumpers.
On Thursday, the strike partnership were pictured wearing matching dog jumpers
Slavia Prague were left wagging their tails between their legs after Martinez scored twice and Romelu Lukaku struck his 250th career goal on Wednesday night.
Martinez put Inter ahead in the 19th minute, the fourth consecutive Champions League match in which the Argentine international has scored, after linking with Lukaku who beat two Slavia defenders on the right side of the box.
The two swapped roles in the 35th minute and Lukaku thought he had scored on the counter-attack only for the video assistant referee to rule there had been a foul at the other end moments earlier.
So, instead, Slavia were awarded a penalty for a trip on Peter Olayinka by Stefan de Vrij and captain Tomas Soucek scored from the spot.
Inter, twice denied by the woodwork in the second half, finally broke through in the last 10 minutes when Lukaku shot into an empty net after his marker slipped. The Belgian’s landmark goal was his first in the Champions League for Inter.
Martinez struck twice as Inter Milan beat Slavia Prague 3-1 away from home
Lukaku rounded the keeper and smashed into an empty net to score Inter’s second
Martinez then wrapped up victory for the Italian side in the 89th minute, volleying home after more fine work by Inter’s record signing Lukaku.
‘We improved a lot compared to the first match against Slavia. The two forwards, especially, played a great game tonight,’ Inter manager Conte said post-match.
‘We had only one result to keep our chances alive and we did it. We know we will have to face a great team like Barcelona (in the final group game at the San Siro) but we will have 80,000 fans there to push us.’
Barcelona lead Group F on 11 points after beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1 and have qualified for the last 16. Inter and Dortmund are level on seven points with Slavia bottom on two.
Here is how Group F of the Champions League looks heading into the final matches next month