Lautaro Martinez injury: Inter captain set to miss Milan derby
Quick summary
Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez is expected to miss the upcoming Milan derby due to injury, dealing a significant blow to Inter's attacking options.
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Attributed to original sourceInter’s miserable week has taken another turn for the worse, with captain Lautaro Martinez facing several weeks out with a hamstring problem.
According to Calciomercato.com , injuries of this kind rarely take less than two weeks to heal and often keep players out for three or more. That means the Argentine could be sidelined until after the November international break.
Lautaro was hurt in Tuesday’s 4-3 Champions League defeat to Club Brugge , despite scoring twice, and underwent tests on Thursday morning.
“Lautaro Martinez underwent clinical and instrumental tests today at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano,” read a club statement. “The tests revealed a muscle strain in the hamstrings of his left thigh.”
CORDOBA, ARGENTINA – SEPTEMBER 30: Lautaro Martinez of Argentina warms up prior to the international friendly match between Argentina and Bolivia at Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium on September 30, 2026 in Cordoba, Argentina. (Photo by Luciano Bisbal/Getty Images) Inter captain Lautaro Martinez set to miss Milan derby The striker will certainly miss Saturday’s trip to Bologna and Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. Fiorentina, Venezia and the derby against Milan on 31 October follow, with Feyenoord and Como to come before the break.
Inter will do everything they can to have him back for the derby, but there is little optimism. LaPresse reports the trip to Atalanta on 22 November as a more realistic target.
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 08: Lautaro Martinez of Internazionale looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Marcus Thuram, Pio Esposito and Ange-Yoan Bonny will be expected to step up in his absence.
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What happened
Inter Milan face the prospect of playing the Milan derby without their captain and talismanic striker Lautaro Martinez. The Argentine forward has picked up an injury, and reports suggest he will not recover in time for the derby. Martinez has been central to Inter's campaign this season, both as a goalscorer and as the team's leader, so his absence presents a major challenge for the Nerazzurri. Whoever steps in to lead the line will carry the weight of filling one of Serie A's most prolific No. 9's boots in the season's most high-profile fixture.
Chance analysis
Losing Lautaro Martinez for the Milan derby is a significant setback for Inter, both tactically and emotionally. The Argentine is not just Inter's top scorer but the heartbeat of their attack, and the derby is the kind of match where his movement, pressing, and finishing tend to shine brightest. Inter's depth will now be tested — whether that means a reshuffled frontline, a change in system, or additional responsibility for supporting cast members. For Milan, his absence is a boost, removing the most dangerous individual threat in an already tense derby atmosphere.
Inter Milan's attacking potency and leadership are weakened by Lautaro Martinez's absence ahead of the Milan derby.