Lautaro Martínez injury: the matches he will miss at Inter

Lautaro Martínez is set for a spell on the sidelines. Inter Milan announced on Thursday that their captain has suffered a muscle issue in the flexor muscles of his left thigh, detected after clinical and instrumental examinations at the Humanitas Institute in Rozzano. The Argentine picked up the problem in the Champions League meeting with Club Brugge, a bittersweet night for the striker: he scored twice, but his side lost 3-4 at San Siro.

• The injury affects the flexor muscles of the Argentine forward's left thigh.
• Lautaro could miss up to seven matches before the November international break.
• European fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord are among those in doubt.
• The Milan derby against AC Milan is the biggest concern for the club and its fans.
• The captain has scored four goals in five Serie A appearances this season.

Match by match: the seven games Lautaro Martínez could miss

Inter's immediate schedule offers no let-up, and the Argentine's absence comes at the worst possible time. Before the international break begins on November 9, the Nerazzurri face a packed run of demanding fixtures in both Serie A and the Champions League. If the expected recovery timeline for this kind of muscle problem holds, Lautaro would be unavailable for all of them.

In European competition, Inter must face Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord without their main attacking reference. In domestic action, matches against Bologna, Fiorentina, Venezia, AC Milan and Como complete the stretch their captain could miss, with the derby carrying the greatest emotional weight for the Inter faithful.

The Milan derby, the main event on the horizon

Of every match at risk, the trip to AC Milan is the one causing the most concern inside and outside the dressing room. The Derby della Madonnina goes far beyond the table and every edition brings the city to a standstill. Losing Lautaro for that game would be a huge emotional blow for an Inter side that has leaned on their captain for leadership and dramatic comebacks in recent seasons.

Lautaro's scoring impact this season

The Argentine's start to the league campaign had been impressive. He has four goals in five appearances, with some moments carrying direct consequences in results. Against Roma he hit a brace that helped his team overturn a 0-2 deficit, and against Napoli he found the net again in another Inter comeback. His last big performance before the injury came against Club Brugge, where his two goals were not enough to avoid a European defeat.

Lautaro could miss up to seven matches, including the European fixtures against Shakhtar Donetsk and Feyenoord.

Frequently asked questions about Lautaro Martínez's injury