Inter Milan go to pf Serie A as Lautaro Martinez nets hat trick

Internazionale moved top of Serie A after thrashing bottom side Salernitana 5-0 with Lautaro Martinez celebrating the end of his goal drought with a hat trick and Edin Dzeko scoring twice to wrap up the win at the San Siro on Friday.

Victory gave Simone Inzaghi's side a one-point lead over Napoli in second and third-placed derby rivals AC Milan, who meet on Sunday in Naples. Salernitana remain rooted to the bottom -- 10 points from the safety zone.

- ESPN+ viewers' guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more

It was a case of deja vu as Inter won by the same scoreline at Salernitana in December, marking the first time in 63 years that a team have scored 10 times against one team in Serie A without conceding a goal.

Inter took the lead in the 22nd minute when Nicolo Barella unlocked the defence with a sublime through-ball for Martinez, who beat the offside trap and found the bottom corner to score his first goal in 10 appearances.

"I personally have experienced difficult moments because a striker lives to score goals. Today I was lucky enough to score three goals," Martinez told Sky Sport.

"I went on the pitch with a lot of desire and a lot of anger because it was an important match for us and an important period for Inter."

Barella was running the midfield and the pair combined again before half-time when Martinez found space between two defenders and delayed his shot to make room for himself before sliding the ball past a hapless Luigi Sepe in Salernitana's goal.

Martinez completed his hat trick 11 minutes after the break when Dzeko laid the ball into the box for the 24-year-old Argentina striker to smash it into the net.

When asked about his embrace with Inzaghi, Martinez said it was about "trust."

"He always gives me confidence. He fights with us near the pitch," he added.

Dzeko had created numerous opportunities and the striker was duly rewarded when he scored twice in five minutes, first finishing at the near post from Robin Gosens' cut back before putting away Denzel Dumfries' cross on a counter-attack.

Inter will now shift their focus to the Champions League last-16, second leg when they will attempt to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday.