Matteo Darmian is the second-half hero at San Siro; it is his close-range finish with just over a quarter-hour to go that has handed Inter victory over Cagliari, to stretch their lead at the summit of Serie A! Full-time, it finishes Inter 1-0 Cagliari.
That is 11 wins on the trot in the top flight for Antonio Conte's side - and they move 11 points clear at the head of the table too. It was far from a masterclass, but they have ground out a win. Surely the wait for the Scudetto grows shorter.
Spare a thought for Leonardo Semplici's team though, and young goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. They did so well to keep their hosts at bay throughout, and were unlocked only once late on. They remain mired in a difficult relegation dogfight.
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Dirette
Cagliari now return home for what may well be a do-or-die clash with Parma. As for Inter? Well, the tough task of a trip to Napoli awaits next weekend. Until then however, thank you for joining us - and have a great week!14:30
90'+4'
FULL-TIME: INTER 1-0 CAGLIARI14:26
90'+3'
Nainggolan cuts down Lukaku as the latter breaks back downfield for Inter and gets booked for his troubles. That will surely be the game.14:26
90'+1'
The visitors also bring off Pavoletti and introduce Gaston Pereiro.14:25
90'
Cagliari are having a relentless last-gasp crack at this, efforts, pinged in all over the shop - and Pavoletti spears a header over! It wouldn't have counted though, the referee signalling an infringement. Three added minutes incoming.14:23
90'
Zappa makes way for Alberto Cerri in a late Cagliari change.13:35
88'
Pedro! That header is not far away at all and Handanovic has to be quick with the pressure, as it skims wide to the right after a Zappa cross. The visitors still think there's something in this one.14:21
86'
There's been eight attempts from Inter this half, compared to just two for the visitors. Those figures don't reflect how tough the going has been.14:20
84'
Cagliari meanwhile bring off Rugani and introduce Giovanni Simeone.14:20
84'
There's a further change for Inter now as Darmian makes way for Danilo D'Ambrosio.14:20
83'
A free-kick for Cagliari allows Marin to fire a response into the Inter box, but it is ably cleared by the hosts' defence. Conte's side are surely on their way to stretching their lead at the summit now.14:16
81'
The hosts also replace Sensi with Matias Vecino.14:14
81'
Eriksen now makes way for Roberto Gagliardini as Inter make some late changes.14:13
79'
Sometimes, you've got to do it ugly - and while it wouldn't be fair to Inter to say that this has been a messy game, it's not been a clinically effective performance either. But they finally have the lead.14:13
77'
That is the impact Conte - who raced over to celebrate with his players in a huddle - wanted from that change. Hakimi has got up in a way Young has not today and it has proven to be the crucial blow. Cagliari's hearts are broken.14:11
77'
GOAL! MATTEO DARMIAN FINALLY BREAKS THE DEADLOCK FOR INTER! 1-0! It was going to take something a little bit special, it felt like, and it is in the end! Hakimi and Lukaku combine for a one-two on the right flank and the former then flashes a square ball across the box for Darmian to wrestle home into the roof of the net. Priceless.
Hakimi has injected an extra burst of life and pace into that wide flank for Inter. He's looking particularly zesty with the ball at his feet.14:12
74'
A flash of danger for Inter, as Cagliari fly down the opposite end and Pavoletti sees two consecutive efforts take wicked deflections. The hosts are comfortable in the end, but it is still a nervy moment.14:08
72'
It's now Cagliari's turn to make a change, with Duncan replaced by Kwadwo Asamoah.14:10
69'
So too do the hosts bring on Achraf Hakimi, who takes the place of Young.21:19
69'
Conte has seen enough; it is time for Lautaro Martinez to appear for Inter, replacing Sanchez.21:19
69'
De Vrij! The crossbar denies him the header! That's as close as Inter have come today to beating Vicario.14:02
68'
Eriksen can't beat the defence with his effort, but another foul gives the former Tottenham man a second chance from a similar distance a minute later. This time, he wins a corner.14:02
67'
Duncan hits Brozovic low with a lazy challenge now and Inter will have a dangerously promising free-kick opportunity 30 yards out on the left.14:02
65'
That's a risky wait from Handanovic, who finds the ball back in his box and almost takes too long to clear before Pavoletti comes roaring in to try and poach it.14:00
63'
Is Antonio Conte regretting the choice to keep Lautaro Martinez on the bench today? It's doubtful; Inter have carved out the chances easily enough, and there's no guarantee he would have converted them too.14:04
61'
Lukaku whips a low effort in as the defence opens up and Vicario hurls himself down to collect. Inter have dominated the past stretch of this game now, the visitors still spirited in response.13:54
59'
Sanchez earns a corner after a miscued hit takes a deflection, but Cagliari do well again to defend the set-piece opportunity. Still no goals as we approach the hour mark.13:53
57'
Vicario has more than earned his stripes today - what a stop that is! Eriksen goes for goal with a looping finish from distance and the goalkeeper palms it away superbly again.13:50
55'
Lukaku! A corner for the hosts is missed by everyone in the box before Brozovic steers the ball back in - and the attacker's head just brushes the outside of the right post as he flicks it on.13:48
53'
Lukaku! Sanchez misreads the Belgian's ball and thinks he's going for a one-two - and with Eriksen in yards of space, he simply taps the ball back for a Cagliari defender to pounce on freely.13:46
52'
Brozovic and Pedro both slide in for a loose ball and the former's follow-through catches the latter with a crunch. That will be the first booking of the game.13:45
50'
That's not a bad opportunity at all for Cagliari as Pedro looks to head an attempt back in, but he would have likely been flagged offside had a goal arisen. An early warning shot from the visitors who are - quite rightfully - fired up.13:44
48'
Sensi! Vicario has to unload another top save to deny the Inter man, who carves a run out of nothing down the right edge and dips a tasty shot towards goal.13:41
46'
We're back underway in Serie A. Will Inter find the breakthrough they're craving? Or can Cagliari trip them up with a major result?13:38
Antonio Conte will have a bit to say about how his side have fared so far. There's a lot of work still to be done, of course, but he'll be frustrated they've not cracked the code up front yet.13:21
It's all square at the interval at San Siro - and it is league leaders Inter who have been held goalless by the work of relegation contenders Cagliari and their young goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario. At half-time, it is Inter 0-0 Cagliari.13:20
45'
HALF-TIME: INTER 0-0 CAGLIARI13:19
44'
Darmian and Sanchez see an attempted combination flagged for offside. It's looking like there will be no score before the break.13:19
42'
There's only one winner in this half and it's not Inter. Their inability to crack the visitors is not fatal - there is still a long way to go and they're getting close - but Cagliari will be delighted to have had so much ball.13:18
40'
Darmian prods a fast, low effort towards the near-right post and Vicario smacks it away, unable to make a clean collection. Cagliari flash the ball back downfield to ease their immediate concerns.13:18
39'
Nainggolan goes from distance! The Inter loanee looks to put his old club down with a strike from over 30 yards out, but Handanovic does well to get low and slap it away.13:13
37'
Double chance for Inter! There's a chance any goal would have been ruled out for offside in the build-up but Lukaku first miscues a cut-back in the box and Eriksen then splashes a finish wide.13:11
35'
In terms of time on the ball, this has been a very even-keeled affair compared to where the two teams sit in the table. Inter have had only 52 per cent of possession so far.13:12
33'
Nainggolan does some sterling work in cutting back to deny Sanchez and Lukaku a lovely one-two play to put the latter through one-on-one with the goal. That may have denied Inter their first goal.13:08
31'
Cagliari are keeping any chance of serious expansiveness down if they can; those gaps that they leave are so easily exploited. Inter are looking a little bit frustrated to have not seized an opener.13:07
29'
Sanchez pings a low effort in towards Vicario, attempting to beat him at the near post, but the goalkeeper has it surely covered.13:04
28'
Every ground that currently hosts top-flight football behind closed doors in Europe surely feels a little different - but perhaps nowhere is as strange as San Siro. The lack of energy is palpable.13:04
26'
There hasn't been too much from Ashley Young yet - superb in midweek against Sassuolo - but he's the initial architect of another spell of pressure, before Duncan digs the visitors out of danger.13:00
24'
Sensi! Inter feel like they are raining chances down on Cagliari now, as the midfielder flashes an effort from left to right, across the face of goal and out at the far post. Close but no coconut.12:58
22'
Skriniar! Inter think they might have the opener as Eriksen turns in a lovely delivery, but the defender is cited for a suspect push in the scramble to get to the ball.12:56
21'
Nandez does well to cut off Eriksen after Lukaku lays the ball on for the ex-Spurs man through the right channel, but Inter grab a dangerous free-kick a moment later for a foul on Sanchez.12:55
19'
The danger that Inter possess is growing, more readily apparent by the minute. They're making metres far too casually when push comes to shove against this Cagliari defence.12:54
17'
Sanchez! Oh, it's a glorious combination from the striker and his old Red Devils partner Lukaku, the latter twisting a short ball through for the former to lift home - but he's just offside. No goal.12:52
15'
This is better from Cagliari, who regather possession and position - and look in danger of creating something with it too. They press down both flanks, one after the other, to no result in the end.12:50
13'
That strike from the Denmark man has put a little bit of spark into Inter's forward momentum, and they now occupy a foothold just inside the Cagliari half. The visitors look a little bit harried.12:46
11'
Eriksen, what a hit! The former Totttenham man picks up a Sensi pass and lashes an effort towards the top-right corner - and it is a corking save from young Guglielmo Vicario to parry.12:45
9'
This could be a particularly pedestrian Sunday affair. Not that Inter will care as long as they get the result; their cushion at the summit means this is undoubtedly more desperate for the visitors.12:45
7'
Much as they were against Sassuolo, Inter seem unconcerned to be out of possession. There is a comfort to the way Conte has set up his side that they feel unhurried off the ball inside their half.12:42
5'
A stroke of luck for Cagliari, as Sensi flashes a square ball through the visitors' box and somehow finds nobody despite multiple attackers lurking. That was a sitter waiting to be tapped home.12:39
3'
Even without the presence of players like Lautaro Martinez in that line-up, there's still a fearsome quality to this Inter side. It will require Sanchez - enjoying a start - to possibly step up though.14:04
1'
We are underway in this Serie A clash between Inter and Cagliari!12:34
The teams have emerged at San Siro and we're moments away from kick-off.12:27
One thing likely guaranteed today? A home goal. Inter have failed to score in only one of their last 37 Serie A meetings against Cagliari, a 0-2 defeat in April 2013.12:18
Subs: Alessandro Tripaldelli, Giuseppe Ciocci, Alberto Cerri, Charalampos Lykogiannis, Giovanni Simeone, Gaston Pereiro, Simone Aresti, Sebastian Walukiewicz, Arturo Calabresi, Kwadwo Asamoah, Ragnar Klavan.12:14
CAGLIARI (3-5-2): Guglielmo Vicario; Daniele Rugani, Diego Godin, Andrea Carboni; Nahitan Nandez, Razvan Marin, Radja Nainggolan, Joseph Alfred Duncan, Gabriele Zappa; Leonardo Pavoletti, Joao Pedro.12:13
Subs: Daniele Padelli, Danilo D'Ambrosio, Roberto Gagliardini, Ivan Perisic, Lautaro Martinez, Achraf Hakimi, Andrea Pinamonti, Ionut Radu, Matias Vecino, Andrea Ranocchia.12:13
INTER (3-5-2): Samir Handanovic; Milan Skriniar, Stefan de Vrij, Alessandro Bastoni; Matteo Darmian, Stefano Sensi, Marcelo Brozovic, Christian Eriksen, Ashley Young; Romelu Lukaku, Alexis Sanchez.12:13
Leonardo Pavoletti meanwhile is one of a host of changes who comes in for the visitors from the team downed by Verona last time out. 12:11
There's four new faces for the hosts from the team who beat Sassuolo in midweek, with Alessandro Bastoni, Stefano Sensi, Marcelo Brozovic and Alexis Sanchez all into the starting line-up.12:09
Leonardo Semplici's side, if anything, have more at stake; their future in the top tier, to be precise. They sit inside the bottom three, five points adrift of safety - and an upset today would hand them a massive boost in the battle for survival.12:06
With only nine games left - and one in hand over nearest rivals Milan, plus an eight-point cushion - Antonio Conte's side look all but set to claim a first Scudetto triumph for a decade. But the Nerazzurri know the task is not yet done.12:03
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2020-21 Serie A season, as Inter look to further cement their status as champions-elect against relegation-embattled visitors Cagliari at San Siro.11:59
Dove si gioca la partita:
Stadio: Giuseppe Meazza Città: Milano Capienza: 80074 spettatori11:59
Inter - Cagliari is a match of 30 day of the season Serie A 2020/2021. The match will be 11 april at 15:00 in the stadium Giuseppe Meazza in Milano. Referee of Inter - Cagliari will be Luca Pairetto with the help of Filippo Valeriani e Davide Imperiale. At VAR there will be Davide Massa.
Currently Inter is 1° in the standings with 74 points (thanks of 23 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats); while Cagliari is 18° in the standings with 22 points (thanks of 5 wins, 7 pareggi and 18 sconfitte). Inter scored 69 goals and conceded 27; Cagliari scored 31 goals and conceded 51. The first leg Cagliari - Inter was played on 13 december 2020 and it ended on a 1-3 score.
At home Inter scored 40 points (13 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss). Away Cagliari scored 10 points (2 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses). Inter in the last three matches of the season challenged Bologna, Sassuolo and Cagliari obtaining 9 points thanks to 3 wins, 0 draws and 0 losses. Cagliari in the last three matches of the season challenged Juventus, Spezia and Vero obtaining 0 points. In the last match Inter was against Cagliari winning 1-0 while Cagliari was against Verona losing 0-2.
Inter and Cagliari competed 81 times in the league. In the previous matches Inter won 39 times, Cagliari won 14 times while the number of draw was 28.
These are the statistics of the two teams in the matches played in the season:
Where to see Inter-Cagliari You can see the live match Inter-Cagliari here on Virgilio Sport starting 15:00 CET of 11 april. Discover who will broadcast live Inter - Cagliari between Sky and Dazn.
