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Alessandro Bastoni’s header, Lautaro Martinez’s first goal since November 3 and Hakan Calhanoglu’s penalty sent Inter top of Serie A with a fifth consecutive league victory as the reigning champions won 3-0 at a stubborn Cagliari on Saturday.
Center back Bastoni curled former Cagliari midfielder Nicol Barella’s free-kick past goalkeeper Simone Scuffet in the 54th minute to move Inter within goal difference of Atalanta as well as two points ahead of third-placed Napoli.
Martinez ended his barren run with a volley in the 19th minute and Calhanoglu sent Scuffet the wrong way seven minutes later after Mateusz Wieteska was adjudged for a tackle in the box.
The result kept Cagliari in the relegation zone with a fourth league defeat in a row, although 15th-placed Lecce are just two points above Gli Isolani.
Cagliari have held Milan, Juventus and Roma this season and David Nicola’s side almost equalized shortly before Martinez struck, only for Inter keeper Yann Sommer to bravely deny Roberto Piccoli as the striker raced across goal.
Martinez had the best chance of the first half, who headed Calhanoglu off the line in the 28th minute with an extremely futile effort.
Piccoli could have put Cagliari in front if he reached a delivery five minutes later and Scuffet kept out Barello’s half-volley as the break approached.
Former Fiorentina, Everton and Barcelona defender Yerry Mina was a nuisance for Inter before the break, but in the second half he was replaced by Wieteska due to a calf injury.
Atalanta can overtake Inter when they visit fourth-placed Lazio on Saturday (19:45 CEST), while Napoli are at home to Venice on Sunday (14:00) with a second matchday.
Today’s Serie A results: Genoa beat Empoli
Elsewhere in Serie A on Saturday, second-half goals from Milan Badelj and Caleb Ekuban earned Genoa a 2-1 win at 12th-placed Empoli, with whom they moved level on points.
Sebastiano Esposito had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot after Badelj’s opening cross, but man of the match Nicola Leali turned his shot against the woodwork.
On-loan Inter striker Esposito enjoyed a measure of redemption as he responded to Empoli’s third consecutive one-goal defeat after 16 minutes.
PARMA scored in the last seconds!!! 🚨🚨🚨#ParmaMonza 2-1 pic.twitter.com/ec1CwaIOtU
— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) December 28, 2024
Parma left it until the 98th minute to move four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 home win over Monza, Lautaro Valenti equalizing the game.
In Monza’s first game under new manager Salvatore Bocchetti, Pablo Mari was sent off for a second yellow card in the 54th minute following a video assistant referee review, with Hernani converting the ensuing penalty.
Pedro Pereira’s equalizer five minutes from time brought only brief hope for the visitors, who are five points from safety.
