By Adeola Akanbi.
Romelu Lukaku scored a brace as Inter Milan claimed its first league victory in six attempts after a 3-0 victory over Empoli to boost their top-four hopes.
After a dull first half, the second part of the game saw a brace from Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez’s late goal as the Milan-based side ended a productive week that also saw them reach the semi-finals of the Champions League since 2010.
Lukaku opened the scoring in the 48th minute to give the away side the lead, before getting on the scoresheet in the 76th minute to dampen any hope in the home side to make an unlikely comeback.
Inter Milan have failed to win in their last six league matches since a home victory over Lecce on the 5th of March, and in this same period oversaw progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a 5-3 aggregate victory over Benfica that resulted in a date with arch-rival AC Milan to come up next in Europe.
The Belgian continues his return to form as he has now managed 4 goals in his last six matches after he struggled with form and injury in the early stages of the season and comes at the right time for Inter who are still fighting in all competitions.
A Coppa Italia second-leg fixture against Juventus awaits next on Wednesday after a first-leg 1-1 draw before the big business of their European showdown against City rival AC Milan next month.