The result sends the visitors top of Serie A… while Parma and Genoa win
A header from Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez’s first goal since November 3 and a penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu sent Inter heading into Serie A with a fifth straight La Liga win as the reigning champions won 3-0 at stubborn Cagliari on Saturday.
Center Bastoni curled a free-kick from former Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella over goalkeeper Simone Scuffet in the 54th minute to put Inter on course to overtake Atalanta on goal difference, as well as two points above Naples, ranked third.
Martinez finished with a volley 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 La Liga defeat, although 15th-placed Lecce are just two points above Gli Isolani.
Cagliari have held off Milan, Juventus and Roma this season, and Davide Nicola’s side almost equalized shortly before Martinez struck, but Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer bravely denied Roberto Piccoli when the striker went to goal.
Martinez had the best chance of the first half and managed to head Calhanoglu’s cross off the line in the 28th minute in an extraordinarily wasted effort.
Piccoli could have put Cagliari in front if he had landed a delivery five minutes later, and Scuffet kept out Barella’s half-volley in the closing stages.
Former Fiorentina, Everton and Barcelona defender Yerry Mina was a nuisance for Inter before the break but was replaced for the second half by Wieteska due to a calf injury.
Atalanta can overtake Inter when they visit fourth-placed Lazio on Saturday (19.45 GMT), while Napoli will be at home to second-placed Venice on Sunday (2pm).
Today’s Serie A results: 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 were level on points.
Sebastiano Esposito had a chance to equalize from the penalty spot after Badelj’s opener, only to see man of the match Nicola Leali turn his shot against the woodwork.
On-loan Inter striker Esposito enjoyed a bit of redemption when he responded with 16 minutes remaining in Empoli’s third consecutive one-goal defeat.
PARMA HAS POINTED TO THE SECOND FINALS!!! 🚨🚨🚨#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 at Monza, Lautaro Valenti settling the game.
In Monza’s first game under new manager Salvatore Bocchetti, Pablo Mari was sent off down the stretch for a second yellow card in the 54th minute following a review by the Video Assistant Referee, with Hernani converting the resulting penalty.
Pedro Pereira’s equalizer five minutes from time has given the visitors only a brief glimmer of hope, as they find themselves five points from safety.
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