Lautaro Martinez scores a brace while Alexis Sanchez and Hakan Calhanoglu get on the score sheet as Inter Milan move one point clear at the top of the table.
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Inter Milan thrashed Cagliari 4-0 in the Serie A fixture at San Siro on Sunday. The hosts opened the scoring through Lautaro Martinez in the first half before Alexis Sancez doubled the lead after the break. Hakan Calhanoglu made the score 3-0 and then Martinez completed the drubbing with his second of the night to seal the victory for Inter. Meanwhile Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno made some brilliant saves to prevent Inter from registering a record-breaking win. With AC Milan drawing and Napoli losing, Inter knew that a win would put them on top of the table.
Cagliari made the first move as Raoul Bellanova was released down the right flank. The 21-year-old ran all the way forward before forcing a save out of Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic. However, after the first attack, it was one-way traffic as Inter attacked the Cagliari goal relentlessly. Milan Skriniar tested Cragno while Martinez and Sanchez had efforts charged down.
It took 29 minutes to break the deadlock. Calhanoglu’s corner from the right flank was headed home by Martinez at the far post. Few moments later, Marcelo Brozovic floated the ball to Nicolo Barella inside the box and the Italian midfielder’s overhead back pass found Sanchez in front of goal. But Cragno was quickly off his line to deny the Chilean from close range.
Denzel Dumfries was released through on goal after Dalbert made a mess of intercepting Sanchez’ through ball. Therefore, Cragno came off his line and brought down Dumfries from a one-on-one situation. The referee had no doubt as he straight away pointed to the penalty spot. But Cragno made a low and diving save to his right to deny Martinez from the spot.
The Argentine’s missed chance didn’t prove costly as Sanchez made it 2-0, five minutes after the restart. Barella juggled at the by-line before delivering a cross back over his head from the right flank. Sanchez got on the end of the cross and slotted it past Cragno with a perfect first-time-volley from 12 yards out.
In the 66th minute, the hosts tripled the lead courtesy of a sensational strike from Calhanoglu. The Turkish footballer’s ferocious strike from outside the box went straight into the top corner. Two minutes later, Martinez made up for the missed penalty. Barella’s overhead pass found the run of Martinez inside the area. The 24-year-old controlled the ball with his shoulder before slotting home to make the score 4-0 in favour of Inter Milan.
Despite taking a commanding lead, Inter kept pushing for more and could have got it if not for Cragno between the posts. The 27-year-old custodian made a sensational save to deny Barella’s screamer and made a quick reflex save to deny Skriniar from close range.
Inzaghi told DAZN after the match: “The lads did really well. I had asked for concentration and focus, as I saw this weekend so many big clubs struggle after European games,” .
“I knew Cagliari would be organised and we needed the right approach. I congratulated them at half-time for their attitude, as although it was only 1-0, they had the right performance and we just needed to convert more of those chances.
Sanchez, who came in for Eden Dzeko had a very good game as he scored one and rattled the crossbar from a long ranger.
“Whenever I rotate the squad, I get a strong response from whoever steps in. Alexis Sanchez is getting better every day, Correa was doing well until the injury, so everyone delivers when called upon.”
With Milan drawing at Udinese and Napoli losing to Empoli, this sends Inter one point clear at the top of the table. Inzaghi was asked where his team can still improve.
“We are top of the table, we reached the Champions League Round of 16 after 11 years, so it’s hard to do better. I knew we were playing well from the very start, that was 23 games ago, but there’s a long road ahead. We’ve done well to put together a run of positive results.
“Now that we are top, naturally we want to stay there. However, we were seven or eight points off the top just a month ago, so we know it’s a tricky and very open season.
“Our aim for Christmas was to reach the Champions League Round of 16, because Inter deserved to be there after 11 years, and we did it with a game in hand. Now we can focus on Serie A for the next few weeks.”
