Anti-football in Sardinia but Lautaro gives Inter the win

Under new boss Christian Chivu, Inter didn’t make such a good start of the season. Nerrazzuri had two defeats after only four games into the new season (they had five all of last season) but luckily for them, they played tonight against their favorite opponent – Cagliari. Inter are unbeaten in 14 of their last 15 league matches against Cagliari (12 wins and 2 draws), and scored 39 goals in the process (2.6 goals on average). They extended that streak with an easy 2-0 win in Sardinia.

Two highlights from the match are the comeback of Lautaro Martinez (and his opening goal) and Chivu’s good substitutions, as both reserve players combined for the second goal which sealed the game. The Rossoblu are Lautaro’s favorite opponents in Serie A: 11 goals in 11 appearances, an average of one goal per game. In the last match, played at San Siro last April, the Nerazzurri number 10 scored the 2-0 goal with a delightful touch. He scored again today.

Inter scored within first 10 minutes of the game. Lautaro was the scorer after an action which was started by Barella, continued by Mkhitaryan and Bastoni, and finished by the Argentinian striker. At that point it looked like this match might be different from the most encounters between the favorite and the outsider in Italian football. But no, it quickly turned into a classic Italian, tactically defensive game, which is without any chances and dull, plain and simple. Cagliari didn’t even made a single shot on goal (on target or otherwise), while the guests had two more shots on target, but in reality those shots were no chances at all.

Inter tried to close the game at the beginning of the first half and pushed a bit more. Thuram and Lautaro exchanged passes in the 53rd minute and the French striker passed to Calhanoglu on the edge of the box. The Turk fired a powerful shot, but it hit the post. Calgiari finally managed one shot towards the opponents net after one hour of play but it was not nearly enough to threaten Inter. But, as long as the score was 1-0, there was always chance for an odd equalizer, so Inter boss Christian Chivu celebrated the second goal as it was the Champions League winner. It finally happened in the 82nd minute, when Esposito put himself in the place to finish after Di Marco’s excellent pass from the left. It was 2-0 and it was over.

SERIE A - MATCHDAY 5

Saturday

Como - Cremonese 1-1 (1-0)

/Paz 32 - Bashirotto 69/

Juventus - Atalanta (0-1)

/Cabal 78 - Sulemana 45+1/

Cagliari - Inter 0-2 (0-1)

/Lautaro 9, Esposito 82/

Sunday

13.30: (2.35) Sassuolo (3.40) Udinese (3.25)

16.00: (3.45) Pisa (3.30) Fiorentina (2.30)

16.00: (1.45) Roma (4.20) Verona (8.00)

19.00: (3.80) Lecce (3.20) Bologna (2.10)

21.45: (2.40) Milan (3.40) Napoli (3.20)

Monday

19.30: (2.35) Parma (3.35) Torino (3.30)

21.45: (3.00) Genoa (3.15) Lazio (2.50)

***odds are subject to change***