Series A | Cagliari 0-3 Inter: Lautaro Martinez ends painful losing streak

CAGLIARI, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Lautaro Martinez of Inter celebrates his goal 0-2 during the Serie A match between Cagliari and FC Internazionale at Sardegna Arena on December 28, 2024 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Inter finally wore down Cagliari with some devastating set-pieces and Lautaro Martinez ended his Serie A goal drought after almost two months with a comfortable 3-0 win.

The Nerazzurri were preparing for the Supercoppa Italiana on January 2, but also had to keep up with Serie A leaders Atalanta. Stefan de Vrij returned to the starting line-up after knee problems, but Matteo Darmian, Francesco Acerbi and Benjamin Pavard were still out of action. The Sardinians lost three straight and brought back Yerry Mina but were still missing Zito Luvumbo.

See how it turned out in the live blog.

It took less than three minutes for a huge opportunity to arise when Lautaro Martinez flicked the ball up on the edge of the box, Marcus Thuram controlled it with his thigh and volleyed in, forcing Simone Scuffet into a tough save.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan rolled over after a defensive error, then Scuffet made a desperate save from Denzel Dumfries after Mkhitaryan may have been incorrectly called for offside.

Michel Adopo’s long-range shot was deflected by Hakan Calhanoglu and pushed just wide of the top corner, but Inter wasted an exceptional opportunity to take the lead in the 28th minute.

Calhanoglu flicked the ball to the back post where Lautaro Martinez buried the diving header and somehow managed to turn it away from goal rather than sending it in from a yard out.

Yann Bisseck had to make two crucial interceptions to prevent Roberto Piccoli from sending in crosses from six yards, while Scuffet saved Nicolò Barella’s half-volley from the D.

Another attempt from Barella was canceled out after the restart, but Inter finally managed to break the deadlock when a free kick was cleared all the way to Barella. His cross found Alessandro Bastoni at the far post, where he scored a header that was perhaps intended as an assist but instead looped from a tight angle straight into the top corner.

Lautaro Martinez still went without a goal in Serie A for almost two months and his angled shot flew past the far post moments later.

Razvan Marin came off the bench and immediately passed a wonderful pass to Piccoli, but Yann Sommer sprinted out and decisively parried the ball, deflecting it at the striker’s feet.

Lautaro Martinez finally broke his goal drought for the first time since November 3, sliding inside at the back post to meet another Barella cross after the corner once again failed to be effectively cleared.

Cagliari had been struggling with corners throughout and were punished again when Mateusz Wieteska foolishly jumped with an arm over his head to knock the set ball off De Vrij’s head, allowing Calhanoglu to convert the penalty.

Sommer kept the clean sheet intact by parrying Mattia Felici’s effort at the near post.

Cagliari 0-3 Inter

Bastoni 53 (I), Lautaro Martinez 71 (I), Calhanoglu Pen 78 (I)

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