Serie A: Inter Milan Dominant in 3-0 Victory Over Cagliari

Inter Milan dominated Cagliari 3-0, with goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez, and Hakan Calhanoglu, to maintain their Serie A title push.

Inter Milan ultimately broke down Cagliari's resistance with a series of clinical set pieces, securing a convincing 3-0 victory. Lautaro Martinez was the beneficiary of this attacking prowess, ending his nearly two-month Serie A goal drought in the process.

With the Supercoppa Italiana showdown against Juventus looming on January 2, Inter were keen to maintain their momentum in Serie A. The Nerazzurri were also eager to keep pace with league leaders Atalanta. Stefan de Vrij made a welcome return to the starting lineup after overcoming a knee issue, although the team was still without Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi, and Benjamin Pavard due to injury. Meanwhile, Cagliari was reeling from three consecutive defeats and, despite the return of Yerry Mina, remained without the services of Zito Luvumbo.

The match burst into life within the opening three minutes, as Lautaro Martinez expertly flicked the ball up on the edge of the box. Marcus Thuram showcased his exceptional control, using his thigh to bring the ball down before unleashing a thunderous volley that forced Simone Scuffet into a spectacular diving save.

Inter continued to press for the opening goal, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan squandering a golden opportunity after a defensive mistake. Scuffet was called upon again to make a desperate save, this time denying Denzel Dumfries after a questionable offside call had been made against Mkhitaryan. Cagliari briefly threatened through Michel Adopo's long-range strike, which took a deflection off Hakan Calhanoglu and narrowly cleared the crossbar. However, Inter would soon rue a missed chance to take the lead on 28 minutes.

Lautaro Martinez squandered an incredible opportunity to give Inter the lead, as Hakan Calhanoglu delivered a pinpoint cross to the back post. Martinez launched himself into a diving header, but somehow managed to direct the ball away from goal, rather than into it, from a mere yard out.

Cagliari's defense was tested to the limit as Yann Bisseck made two crucial interceptions to prevent Roberto Piccoli from tapping in crosses from just six yards out. Meanwhile, Simone Scuffet was forced to make a smart save, parrying a Nicolò Barella half-volley from the edge of the box, as Inter continued to pile on the pressure.

Inter's persistence finally paid off after the restart, as they broke the deadlock in unconventional fashion. A cleared free kick fell to Nicolò Barella, who delivered a cross to Alessandro Bastoni at the far post. Bastoni's header, intended as a cross, surprisingly looped directly into the top corner from an extremely tight angle, catching everyone off guard and giving Inter the lead.

Lautaro Martinez's quest for a Serie A goal continued, with his angled drive narrowly skimming the far post. This near-miss extended his drought to almost two months, with his last goal dating back to November 3.

Cagliari substitute Razvan Marin made an instant impact, threading a precise pass through to Roberto Piccoli. However, Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer was quick to react, sprinting off his line to make a crucial save that denied Piccoli a certain goal.

Martinez's persistence finally paid off, as he ended his goal drought by sliding in at the back post to meet Nicolò Barella's inviting cross. The opportunity arose after Cagliari failed to effectively clear a corner, allowing Barella to deliver another precise ball into the box. Martinez's relief was palpable as he scored his first Serie A goal in nearly two months.

Cagliari's vulnerability at defending corners continued to haunt them, and they were made to pay once more. Mateusz Wieteska committed a reckless foul, jumping with his arm raised and slapping the ball away from Stefan de Vrij's head. This blatant infringement earned Inter a penalty, which Hakan Calhanoglu calmly converted to further extend their lead.

Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer ensured that his team's clean sheet remained intact, producing a crucial save at the near post to deny Mattia Felici's effort. Sommer's reflexes and positioning were impeccable, as he parried the shot to safety and preserved Inter's shutout victory.