A strike from Bastoni opens at the start of the second half, then Toro scores again and Calhanolgu converts from eleven meters after Wieteska’s hand
Inter bid farewell to their star-studded 2024 – 89 points in the calendar year and one game less – with a round victory on Sardinian soil and with the news they were waiting for most in view of the Super Cup: it thundered so much that it rained, the spell is over by Lautaro. Toro’s goal, between Bastoni’s and Calha’s penalty, underpinned the Nerazzurri’s second half against a Cagliari that was too crumbly, especially up front: for Nicola it was the fourth defeat in a row, the relegation alarm was getting worse while Domus Arena disputes.
boom boot
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At the start Simone Inzaghi practices the Arab Super Cup with the best possible formation, considering the continuous defensive shortage: here in Sardinia not even Darmian has sprinted, in addition to Acerbi-De Vrij, and also for this reason Bisseck, in vertical ascent, retains his place. After three defeats in a row, Davide Nicola still trusts Piccoli in place of Pavoletti and gives the Cagliari goal back to Scuffet. And it is the former Udinese child prodigy who takes center stage in the first quarter of an hour of Inter’s siege: two saves save the day, one from a sudden and unpredictable right from Thuram and another from a sharp shot from Dumfries. As if to say that his (betrayed) promises at the beginning of his career were not misplaced. Furthermore, the Italian champions also add another maxi-opportunity devoured, this time by Mkhitaryan: a rather confused action sends Barella into the goal (booed by his fellow citizens), who skips Scuffet but doesn’t manage to kick, and so passes to Thuram who, in turn, supports the Armenian. Micki is as lonely as he is strangely imprecise. The Nerazzurri’s control over the match is evident, despite a certain obstinacy in the central areas, like the curse that seems to accompany Lautaro Martinez throughout the first half: the goal he misses from a sharp cross from Calha, into an empty net, is a mystery of faith.
no unlocking
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If that wasn’t enough, the Argentine spent most of the first 45 minutes arguing with rival centre-back Yerry Mina, a sanguine Colombian: tense South American stories, constant sparks, like when Nicola’s defender tugged Martinez’s twin, Thuram, a little too much. right near the area resulting in a dangerous free kick. In the end, however, Inter’s dominance did not result in any goal, despite continuous situations of danger: a flying left-footed shot from Barella should also be included in the list. The consequence of so much waste is that, from time to time, Inter has moments of slippage in defence: if the Cagliari trident behind the striker, Zortea-Gaetano-Augello, never manages to provide the trigger, it is the low full-backs to create dangers on crosses. Obert has a left foot as sharp as sandpaper, Zappa finds a ball for Piccoli who goes around Bisseck, but fails to make an impact.
skip the cap
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The second half begins with a substitution of Nicola in the heart of the defense: in addition to having nerves in the skin, Mina had complained of pain in her calf and for this reason she had to give way to the Polish Wieteska. It is a change that will weigh on the economy of the match, from that moment on the Colombian’s centimeters and malice are missing in the middle. It may be a coincidence, but the result changes already in the 53rd minute and the wasteful Inter, after many clear opportunities scattered throughout the first half, hits the mark in the strangest way: Bastoni’s strike, on a ball put in by Barella, finds the other pole. It is a bizarre bell tower on which Scuffet could have better manned the trench. Having blown the stoppage time, Inter sailed in search of the 2-0, even if they trembled for a moment when Nicola increased the offensive weight with two heavy strikers on the pitch (Marin and Pavoletti respectively for Obert and Gaetano): Sommer was, in fact, forced to an avalanche outing on Piccoli, the first real intervention of the evening. From there, only good news for Inzaghi, while the night falls for Nicola: Simone can finally rejoice because his captain has defeated the curse. After eight games without a goal and another missed goal at the start of the second half, Lautaro broke free with the most classic of goals from a stealing centre-forward, following Barella’s usual cross. Not a difficult touch for a champion like the Argentine, but in the last period the little black cloud that accompanied him had made him miss even more sensational opportunities. The 3-0, however, is a penalty from Calha which comes from a reckless blow from Wieteska in an attempt to anticipate De Vrij. At this point Inter can think about Atalanta to challenge in Riyadh on Tuesday and can save the precious energies of Barella, Dimarco and Thuram and Calha, all replaced at different times. Cagliari, on the other hand, ends up under the curve that wants to send “everyone to work”: they will need much more to save themselves.
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