Serie A: Inter remains in heels of Rivals with a 2-0 win at Cagliari

Inter Milan achieved a 2-0 win over Cagliari on Saturday thanks to an early goal from Lautaro Martinez and a late strike by replacement Francesco Pio Esposito, and moved to the fifth in the Serie A-classification.

Cristian Chivu’s Inter desperately needed a victory to prevent them from losing at the top in this early phase of the season, after they had suffered two losses in their opening of four games, and a second consecutive victory keeps them in contact with their title rivals.

Inter is on nine points, three off -leader Napoli, who is in AC Milan on Sunday, while Cagliari stays on seven points and falls to 10th place.

«The show was there, I am proud of the boys because with every misstep people are ready to attack us,» said Interdefender Alessandro Bastoni Sky Sport.

The visitor’s task was made easier with a lead in the ninth minute when Bastoni set a cross in the area and Martinez stood to send his header in the far corner of the edge of the six-year box.

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Cagliari is the favorite opponent of the Inter Striker, where Martinez nestled his 12th goal against the host, who did not meet the expectations that only lost once this season, that defeat against champion Napoli.

The opening half was a filthy, physical affair, constantly interrupted by the whistle of the referee, where Cagliari never threatened the early lead of Inter, with no shot, on or out of goal, registered before the break.

Because Inter was unable to create real opportunities to increase the lead, the game remained subtly ready to go into the second half.

Inter began to turn the screw after the break, the strike of Hakan Calhanoglu from outside the area collapsed and Marcus Thuram drove on to goal, but his effort was saved by keeper Elia Caprile.

Brother against brother

Esposito was led by Inter, the 20-year-old striker who came up against his older brother Sebastiano.

Sebastiano, on loan at Cagliari van Inter, had a rare opportunity for the host from a corner, but his fullpoypseht on the back post was good out of the target.

Inter received a warning about his fragile lead when Michael Folorunsho hit a header of the pile of Esposito’s corner and responded the visitor properly.

«Certainly, the episodes have given us a hand, because when that header comes in, we’re talking about another game,» said Bastoni.

Davide Fratteni had released a target -bound shot from De Lijn by Cagliari -defender Riyad Idrissi and minutes later replacement ESposito scored his first Serie A goal.

«An intelligent and great guy, he works hard and listens,» Martinez told Dazn when he was asked about Esposito.

Federico Dimarco withdrew the ball from the name rule in the area and the unmarked Esposito was there to send his shot in the back of the net and to settle the victory over by eight minutes.

«At his age he proves his value, he will give us a big hand this year,» Martinez added.

Published on September 28, 2025