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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 successive league win as the reigning champions won 3-0 at stubborn Cagliari on Saturday.
Centre-back Bastoni headed former Cagliari midfielder Nicol Barello’s free-kick past goalkeeper Simone Scuffet in the 54th minute to put Inter on course to move above Atalanta on goal difference and two points clear of third-placed Napoli.
Martinez ended his barren run with a volley 19 minutes from time and Calhanoglu sent Scuffet the wrong way seven minutes later after Mateusz Wieteska was adjudged a player in the box.
The result kept Cagliari in the relegation zone with their fourth defeat in the league, although 15th-placed Lecce are just two points above Gli Isolani.
Cagliari have held off Milan, Juventus and Roma this season and Davide Nicola’s side almost equalized shortly before Martinez struck, only for Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer to bravely deny Roberto Piccoli as the striker raced through on goal.
Martinez had the best chance of the first half, managing to head Calhanoglu’s cross off the line in the 28th minute in an extremely futile effort.
Piccoli could have put Cagliari ahead if he had scored five minutes later and Scuffet kept out Barella’s half-volley with the break coming on.
Former Fiorentina, Everton and Barcelona defender Yerry Mina was a nuisance for Inter before the break, but was replaced in the second half by Wieteska due to a calf injury.
Atalanta can overtake Inter when they visit fourth-placed Lazio on Saturday (19:45 GMT), while Napoli visit second-placed Venezia on Sunday (14:00).
Today’s Serie A results: Genoa beat Empoli
In Serie A action on Saturday, second-half goals from Milan Badeljo and Caleb Ekuban earned Genoa a 2-1 win against 12th-placed Empoli, who they are level on points with.
Sebastiano Esposito had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot after Badelj’s opener, but player of the match Nicola Leali deflected his shot into the frame of the goal.
On-loan Inter striker Esposito experienced redemption when he hit back 16 minutes from time in Empoli’s third consecutive one-goal defeat.
PARMA SCORES 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 settling the contest.
In new Monza manager Salvatore Bocchetti’s first game, Pablo Mari was sent off for a second yellow card in the 54th minute after a video assistant referee review, and Hernani converted the penalty.
Pedro Pereira’s equalizer five minutes before the end of regular time gave only a brief hope to the visitors, who are safe on five points.
