
Martínez strikes again as Inter grind out win at Cagliari
Inter Milan moved level on points with Serie A’s top four after a gritty 2-0 victory at Cagliari. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring with his 12th goal in 12 games against the Sardinian side. Inter showed their intent early. Hakan Calhanoglu’s elbow in a second-minute aerial challenge set the tone as the visitors pressed high and denied Cagliari space. Martínez struck in the ninth minute, heading in Alessandro Bastoni’s precise cross. Cagliari struggled to respond. Sebastiano Esposito wasted a decent free-kick, while midfielders Michael Folorunsho and Alessandro Deiola were sloppy in possession. Martínez and Marcus Thuram kept testing the home defence, but Cagliari clung on to reach half-time only a goal down.