Inter beat Cagliari 3-1. And immediately the pressure on Napoli begins

Milan, April 12, 2025 - Simone Inzaghi sends the ball back to Antonio Conte's side. TheInter does its duty e beats Cagliari in the Saturday advance by three to one, putting Napoli under pressure, who will now be forced to win against Empoli at the Maradona. There was no shortage of twists and turns: in the 65th minute theZalewski's injury which forces Inzaghi to change strategy. 

One more great first half of the Nerazzurri who break through with arnautovic e Lautaro, before Little ones put the score into question at the beginning of the second half, but the header of Bisseck he resolved the last doubts and removed the residual fears of a comeback.

Hat-trick for the Nerazzurri who temporarily rise to plus six on the Neapolitans and can now think about the Bayern Munich who will come to Milan on Wednesday for the return leg of the quarter-finals of Champions League.

Arnautovic immediately, then Lautaro

Inzaghi relaunches Dimarco and chooses arnautovic as Lautaro's partner in front, while Augusto plays as left-hander. Nicola is cautious with a 3-5-1-1 buttoned up with Coman in support of Little ones. Worth mentioning is Inter with a special shirt inspired and dedicated to Valentino Rossi, a big Nerazzurri fan. Obviously the home team is making the game, with the intention of starting strong to take control immediately, while Cagliari plays defense, with particular attention especially on the wing where Zortea and Augello have to keep a good watch. The first chance is Nerazzurri and is built on the Dimarco-Lautaro, with the winger finding the Argentine in depth who fires a left-footed shot badly wide.

An action by Joaquin Correa (Inter) and Alessandro Deiola (Cagliari)

Inter, in any case, managed to unlock the score immediately. In the 12th minute, a persistent action by Carlos Augusto allowed arnautovic to get into the area: a winning left-footed shot and it's one to nil. The home team doesn't slow down and continues to grind out the game, often trying to break through on the left with Dimarco's technique and the leg of Augusto, while on the opposite side Cagliari struggles to trigger Coman and Piccoli, often very isolated. The Sardinians make themselves seen with the classic cross from Augello but Bisseck keeps good guard in the center of the area, and it is too little to be able to think of hurting Inter.

In fact, Nicola's team missed the opportunity shortly after, when Little ones launched into open field does not take advantage of a slide by Sommer and finds the goalkeeper's reflex on the left-footed shot from close range. Shivers at San Siro. Missed goal, conceded goal, as they say in these cases.

On a similar situation, Lautaro he proves to be a better striker than Piccoli and with a delightful touch underneath, on a splendid ball from arnautovic, scores the second goal that makes Inzaghi explode with joy.

Cagliari can no longer sting 

 Too much Inter for Cagliari who can't get out, can't sting anymore and continues with a low center of gravity without much chance of reopening the game. The Nerazzurri take even more possession of the match, play by heart, with a lively Arnautovic as a goalscorer and additional playmaker and the wingers are always ready to insert themselves guaranteeing depth. With the double advantage there is also the possibility of managing pace and score, Wednesday there is Bayern, and with ball possession the Italian champions try to tame a not very brilliant Cagliari.

The last chance of the first half comes again from Arnautovic, then the ball comes from the opposite side for the cross from Zalewski and the overhead kick from Lautaro which ends just wide. Applause from the Meazza.

Piccoli scares, Bisseck closes the game  

Cagliari needed an episode to get back into the game, and it happened immediately at the start of the second half. The scheme was standard, with the proverbial cross from Augello for the aerial pumpkin of Little ones: 2-1 at 48'. Having regained morale, Cagliari tries and attacks, still looking for the left flank where Inter has the most difficulty in finding the right exits and it seems that yet another and atavistic decline in the second half is coming. By doing so, the Sardinians are unbalanced and risking at the back.

Marco's he sends a ring and goes on the volley with his left foot following a pass from Barella, but Caprile he is attentive. The fear passes at 56'. From the following corner comes the aerial leap of Bisseck which is worth the 3-1 that chases away the ghosts. Inzaghi goes with the substitution management and chooses Darmian and Correa for Dimarco and Arnautovic, trying to avoid ailments and injuries and the double advantage allows it. Substitutions also for Nicola who chooses Marin and Luvumbo to try to recover a compromised match.

At 65' the injury of Zalewski

At 65' more problems for the Nerazzurri with the muscular injury of Zalewski which forces Inzaghi to change with the introduction of Bastoni and shortly after it is also the turn of Thuram take a walk to give Lautaro a breather. The game still seems to be on ice, Cagliari tries to force on Luvumbo's side but there are no big opportunities and Sommer can easily control his defense. In the offensive phase, however, a pinch of quality is missing in the finishing area to get the poker, with Cagliari attacking and exposing themselves to counterattacks.

The chance in the 78th minute, but the comeback fails

The final stages see a slower pace, the home team controls and manages, slowing down when necessary with a Cagliari willing but not with the quality needed to regain the result and Nicola's last card is Gaetano to look for something more in the final meters.

The chance is at 78'. This time Luvumbo creates an advantage on the right, then the ball shoots out Little ones who with his left foot finds the rebound on the line The free. In the four minutes of added time after the ninetieth minute, nothing actually happens. The Sardinians have surrendered and there is no time for a double comeback, Inter has no need to force and sails smoothly towards the final whistle. Inter is currently six points ahead of Napoli, now it's up to Conte to respond to Maradona against Empoli to keep the Scudetto games open.