In a tightly contested Serie A match, Inter Milan emerged victorious over Cagliari with a score of 1-0, thanks to a stunning early goal from Hakan Calhanoglu. This victory marks Inter's second consecutive win of the season, following their impressive 4-1 triumph against Monza in the opening round.
Inter Milan made several changes to their lineup for this match, introducing new signings Benjamin Pavard, Petar Sucic, and Luis Henrique into the squad. Notably, Curtis Jones was on the bench for the first time, while Djed Spence continued to work on his fitness. Cagliari, on the other hand, came into the match with a surprise 1-0 win over Parma in their opening fixture, although they were missing key players Yerry Mina and Riyad Idrissi. Additionally, the team was relieved to have Yael Trepy released from the hospital after a near-drowning incident just days prior.
The match kicked off with high intensity, and it took only nine minutes for Inter to find the back of the net. Nicolò Barella, a native of Cagliari, skillfully cut inside from the right flank and delivered a precise pass to Calhanoglu. The Turkish midfielder struck the ball with his right foot from outside the penalty area, sending it into the bottom corner of the net with pinpoint accuracy.
Following the goal, Inter continued to press for more, with Lautaro Martinez and Manuel Akanji both coming close to extending the lead. Martinez had a chance that went wide, while Akanji's header from a Federico Dimarco free kick narrowly missed the target. Cagliari's goalkeeper, Elia Caprile, was kept busy, making crucial saves to deny Barella and Dimarco, who both tested him with powerful shots.
Despite Inter's dominance in the first half, Cagliari managed to regroup after the break and began to create their own opportunities. Caprile was called into action again, making a vital save from an Esposito effort after another assist from Barella. Cagliari's defense, led by Juan Rodriguez, also made key interventions to keep the scoreline close.
As the match progressed, Cagliari pushed for an equalizer, with Kevin Carlos and Alieu Fadera both threatening Inter's goal. However, Inter's defense held firm, and goalkeeper Josep Martinez was quick off his line to thwart a potential goal from Carlos. The introduction of substitutes, including Curtis Jones and John Stones for Inter, added fresh legs to the squad as they sought to maintain their lead.
In the closing stages, Cagliari's Adam Obert came close with a powerful shot that went over the bar, while Adopo thought he had found the equalizer with a fierce strike that was blocked by Yann Bisseck. Despite their efforts, Cagliari could not find the back of the net, and Inter secured the victory.
With this win, Inter Milan continues to build momentum early in the Serie A season, while Cagliari will look to regroup and capitalize on their chances in upcoming matches.
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