Cagliari vs Inter Player Ratings: Three Second Half goals from Inter see Cagliari off as they reach the summit of Serie A
Inter’s blitz in the second half was enough to take them to the top of the table. The hosts in disappointing form were expected to fold in front of a team in form. But Cagliari put on a solid defensive display in the first half. Inter’s sloppiness played into their hands as the game was goalless in the first half. However, the floodgates opened in the second half as Bastoni put Inter ahead. Lautaro Martinez doubled their advantage. Calhanoglu scored from the spot to secure the victory.
The form table disappeared once the ball was kicked as Cagliari started the game boldly. They were not afraid to be on the ball and look for pockets of spaces in behind. Inter found their rhythm slowly and their striker pair started getting involved. Mkhitaryan blazed a shot high after a scuffle in the box gave him a chance. Cagliari kept on frustrating the visits as Lautaro couldn’t beat the keeper from a delicious Barella cross. The hosts were happy to play on the counter and had a couple of dangerous moments from the left forcing Inter to rethink their strategy.
The half ended goalless as Inter failed to create more meaningful chances. They needed to be more ruthless to break down a strong defence. Cagliari were happy to play for a point and the manager replaced Yerry Mina who was targeted by Inter’s press at halftime.
Inter’s pressure bore fruit as Bastoni got on the scoresheet shortly after the break. The defender won a freekick and was on the end of a speculative delivery from Barella. His header across the goal looped past Scuffet and crossed the line just inches below the crossbar. Inter soon should’ve made it two but Martinez inexplicably missed a chance.
Barella was the wrecker-in-chief as Martinez converted his cross to double Inter’s advantage. Piccoli naively handled in the box shortly afterwards. Calhanogly rarely misses from the spot as he sealed the result.
This win takes Inter to the top of the table after a fifth successive win. The Nerazzurri are rediscovering their ruthless spark and killing off oppositions. They can end the year on top of the table if Atalanta fails to get anything out of their clash against Atalanta later in the night and Napoli fails to win tomorrow. Cagliari, meanwhile, are sinking deeper into the pit as a fifth straight defeat leaves them in 18th position. The teams above them can extend their gap with better performances on Sunday.
Cagliari Player Ratings vs Inter
Goalkeeper
Simone Scuffet: 6.5/10- He was involved from the early stages as he had to rush off his line to make multiple claims. Made a couple of fantastic saves but the referee already raised his flag. Was beaten by Bastoni’s looping header. Stood no chance for the other goals.
Defenders
Gabriele Zappa: 6.6/10- The skipper was a soothing presence for the hosts. Demanded the ball and played slowly when needed and increased the tempo at times too.
Yerry Mina: 6.5/10- It looked like the strikers of Inter targeted him as he was fouled a lot and ended up fouling a lot. Things threatened to boil over when he almost got into a scuffle with Thuram. Was substituted at half-time for some calmness on the field.
Sebastiano Luperto: 6.5/10- The defender stood tall under pressure and made multiple tackles to deny the Inter strike pair. Wished he marked Martinez tighter in the box for Inter’s second
Adam Obert: 6.5/10- Had a couple of strides forward and whipped some dangerous balls into the box that needed clearing.
Midfielders
Antoine Makoumbou: 6/10- Worked hard to win the ball and sat alongside the defence to protect them. Was nowhere to be seen in the second half.
Michel Ndary Adopo: 6/10- Fouled Martinez who was getting away into the box. Had a good chance as he was released into space but could only win a corner.
Nadir Zortea: 6/10- Tried to take advantage of the space vacated by Dimarco but couldn’t do it as he pleased.
Gianluca Gaetano: 6/10- He used the turnovers to create some chances for his side but they were never put away.
Tommaso Augello: 6.5/10- Had a couple of set-piece opportunities to create some danger. Did not utilise them though.
Attacker
Roberto Piccoli: 4/10- The striker was having very little service and spent his time locked in duels with de Vrij. Thought he won a penalty for his side when he went down after contact with Sommer. The referee thought otherwise. A bad evening turned worse when he handled the ball to concede a penalty.
Substitutes
Mateusz Wieteska: 5.5/10
Razvan Marin: 6/10
Leonardo Pavoletti: 6/10
Nicolas Viola: 6/10
Mattia Felici: N/A
Manager
Davide Nicola: 4/10- Perhaps the manager missed a trick by hooking Mina at halftime. His side lacked the physical edge in the second half as Inter ran riot. With 5 consecutive losses, the pressure is mounting and the coach needs to fix his defence.
Inter Player Ratings vs Cagliari
Goalkeeper
Yann Sommer: 7/10- Even though Cagliari threatened at times, he was not called into action in the first half. Came out to deny Piccoli and did it cleanly as well.
Defenders
Yann Bisseck: 7/10- Key intervention on a cross from Obert to turn it behind for a corner.
Stefan de Vrij: 7/10- Was the deepest of the centre-backs and tried to keep his footing with Piccoli.
Alessandro Bastoni: 8/10- Played his part in trying to break the hosts’ defence down. Made a few runs and sent a few long balls in the first half and it paid off in the second half as he headed home a free-kick he himself won.
Midfielders
Denzel Dumfries: 6.5/10- Was unusually quiet going forward as Augello kept him engaged. Made a great start to the second half with a darting run.
Nicolo Barella: 8.5/10- Made great runs into the box and set up Martinez with a delicious cross. Needed more incision than that. Corrected it with a superb ball for Bastoni as Inter opened the scoring and found Lautaro in the box again.
Hakan Calhanoglu: 7.5/10- Was effective with his devastating switches of play and was happy to do the dirty work when needed. Sent Scuffet the wrong way from 12 yards to seal the result.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan: 7/10- Started the game with his usual runs forward and tried to create chaos in the box. Blazed high when the goal was gaping.
Federico Dimarco: 6.5/10- Switched to the right and let a rash shot out from his left foot. Wasted a dangerous free-kick by crashing it straight into the wall.
Attackers
Marcus Thuram: 6/10- Was caught flat-footed when the early chance came his way. Was linking up well with the others. Didn’t get a meaningful chance again.
Latauro Martinez: 7/10- A clever dummy early to release Thuram. He was creating chances frequently by dropping deep. Missed a glorious opportunity to put in front from a Barella cross. He put things right after finishing a cross from Barella in the box.
Substitutes
Piotr Zielinski: 6/10
Carlos Augusto: 6/10
Mehdi Taremi: 6/10
Davide Frattesi: N/A
Kristjan Asllani: N/A
Manager
Simone Inzaghi: 7/10- Another win for the boss as his side reaches the top of the table. Will be disappointed with a tame first-half performance as the players looked lax. Got things in the second half to seal the result.
When did Cagliari last win against Inter?
Cagliari’s last win against Inter was more than five years ago in March 2019.
Who won in the clash between Cagliari and Inter?
Inter registered a 2-0 victory against Cagliari to take all three points home.
Who was the best player in Cagliari vs Inter?
Nicolo Barella was the best player in Cagliari vs Inter.
Who was the worst player in Cagliari vs Inter?
Piccoli was the worst player in Cagliari vs Inter