With a 1-0 derby triumph, Lautaro Martinez's good form continued as Inter Milan handed AC Milan their fourth straight loss.

In a completely one-sided first half at San Siro on Sunday, the in-form Martinez, who was given the captain's armband by Simone Inzaghi, made it 15 goals for the season by scoring the game's first goal with a header.

Milan's lackluster performance, which extended their winless streak to seven games and exacerbated Stefano Pioli's workload, resulted in zero shots on goal.

Second-placed The Rossoneri dropped to sixth place as the year's miserable start continued, leaving Inter five points ahead of their local rivals behind Napoli, who are currently cruising through Serie A.

Do you hear that? It's the roar of El Toro 👂🐂#ForzaInter #DerbyMilano #InterMilan pic.twitter.com/8eTQnmBCK9— Inter (@Inter_en) February 5, 2023

The Nerazzurri got off to a flying start as Martinez forced a spectacular reflex stop out of Ciprian Tatarusanu and also headed narrowly wide.

Edin Dzeko was brought down far too easily by Matteo Gabbia's challenge, but despite Inzaghi's team's dominance, referee Davide Massa wisely declined to give them a penalty.

Though it appeared inevitable that Inter would score first, the game's first goal was indeed scored in the 34th minute when the vivacious Martinez topped Simon Kjaer to head in a corner kick from the left by Hakan Calhanoglu.

After Pioli inserted Rafael Leao and Alexis Saelemaekers, it was still one-way traffic as Tatarusanu deflected Martinez's shot at his near post.

After 57 minutes, Milan's first opportunity came from Olivier Giroud, but his header missed the crossbar and was never going to test Andre Onana.

At the other end, more objectives appeared more likely.

Romelu Lukaku had one disallowed for dragging down Malick Thiaw, and Martinez had another disallowed for a slight offside, but it was his first-half goal that was decisive.