Alessandro Bastoni’s header, Lautaro Martinez’s first goal since November 3 and a Hakan Calhanoglu penalty propelled Inter to the top of Serie A with a fifth successive league victory as the defending champions cruised to victory 3-0 against stubborn Cagliari on Saturday.
Centre-back Bastoni curled in former Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella’s free kick over goalkeeper Simone Scuffet in the 54th minute to put Inter past Atalanta on goal difference, as well as two points ahead of third-placed Napoli.
Martinez ended his barren run by volleying 19 minutes from time and Calhanoglu sent Scuffet the wrong way seven minutes later after Mateusz Wieteska was judged to have handled inside the area.
The result kept Cagliari in the relegation zone with a fourth consecutive league defeat, although 15th-placed Lecce are just two points ahead of 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 when the attacker scored on goal.
Martinez had the best chance of the first half, managing to head Calhanoglu’s 28th-minute cross over the line in an extraordinarily futile effort.
Piccoli could have given Cagliari the lead had he managed to score five minutes later, and Scuffet kept Barella’s half-volley from going wide as the break approached.
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 (7:45 p.m. GMT), while Napoli host second-placed Venezia on Sunday (2 p.m.).
Serie A results today: Genoa beat Empoli
Elsewhere in Serie A on Saturday, second-half goals from 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 the chance to equalize 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 striker Esposito enjoyed some redemption when he responded 16 minutes from time in Empoli’s third successive one-goal defeat.
PARMA SCORED IN THE LAST SECONDS!!! 🚨🚨🚨#ParmaMonza 2-1 pic.twitter.com/ec1CwaIOtU
– Serie A League (@SerieA_EN) December 28, 2024
Parma waited until the 98th minute to move four points clear of the relegation zone with a 2-1 home win over Monza, with Lautaro Valenti settling the contest.
In the first match for new Monza manager Salvatore Bocchetti, Pablo Mari was sent off from the bottom for a second yellow card in the 54th minute following a review by the video assistant referee, with Hernani converting the penalty which results.
Pedro Pereira’s equalizer five minutes from time gave only brief hope to the visitors, who sit five points from safety.
