Alessandro Bastoni’s header, Lautaro Martinez’s first goal since November 3 and a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty sent Inter top of Serie A with a fifth successive league victory as the reigning champions won 3-0 at stubborn Cagliari on Saturday.
Centre-back Bastoni looped former Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella’s free-kick over goalkeeper Simone Scuffet in the 54th minute to put Inter on their way to moving above Atalanta on goal difference, as well as two points clear of third-placed Napoli.
Martinez ended his barren run by volleying in 19 minutes from time and Calhanoglu sent Scuffet the wrong way seven minutes later after Mateusz Wieteska was adjudged to have handled inside the box.
The result kept Cagliari in the relegation zone with a fourth straight league defeat, although 15th-placed Lecce are only two points above Gli Isolani.
Cagliari have held Milan, Juventus and Roma this season, and Davide Nicola’s side almost equalised shortly before Martinez struck, only for Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer to bravely deny Roberto Piccoli when the striker ran through on goal.
Martinez had the best chance of the first half, contriving to head Calhanoglu’s 28th-minute cross off the line in an extraordinarily wasteful effort.
Piccoli might have put Cagliari ahead had he reached a delivery five minutes later, and Scuffet kept Barella’s half-volley out with the interval closing in.
Former Fiorentina, Everton and Barcelona defender Yerry Mina was a nuisance to Inter before the break but was replaced for the second half by Wieteska because of a calf injury.
Atalanta can overtake Inter when they visit fourth-placed Lazio on Saturday (7.45pm GMT), while Napoli are at home to second-bottom Venezia on Sunday (2pm).
Serie A results today: Genoa beat Empoli
Elsewhere in Serie A on Saturday, second-half goals by Milan Badelj and Caleb Ekuban gave Genoa a 2-1 win at 12th-placed Empoli, with whom they moved level on points.
Sebastiano Esposito had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot after Badelj’s opener, only to see player of the match Nicola Leali turn his strike against the woodwork.
On-loan Inter forward Esposito enjoyed a measure of redemption when he replied 16 minutes from time in Empoli’s third consecutive one-goal defeat.
PARMA HAVE SCORED IN THE FINAL 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 match, Pablo Mari was dismissed for the bottom side for a second yellow card in the 54th minute following a Video Assistant Referee review, with Hernani converting the resulting penalty.
Pedro Pereira’s equaliser five minutes from the end of regular time provided only brief hope for the visitors, who are five points from safety.
