Inter top of Serie A after sweeping aside Cagliari

Inter moved provisionally top of Serie A on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Cagliari which put the champions ahead of Atalanta on goal difference.

Second-half goals from Alessandro Bastoni, Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu decided an engaging match in Sardinia to give Inter their fifth straight win in Italy’s top flight.

Atalanta can reclaim top spot later on Saturday when they face fourth-placed Lazio in Rome, looking for a club record-extending 12th league win on the bounce without injured star striker Mateo Retegui.

Cagliari are just inside the relegation zone after a fourth consecutive defeat for Davide Nicola’s side.

Inter could have won by a more convincing scoreline at the Unipol Domus stadium had captain Martinez not wasted great chances in each half before ending an eight-match scoring drought in the 71st minute by prodding home Nicolo Barella’s cross.

Argentina striker Martinez hadn’t scored since November 3 and looked to be having another bad day in front of goal when he somehow failed to push home Calhanoglu’s cross midway through the first half. 

He then flashed a low drive just past the post eight minutes after the break, moments after Bastoni gave Inter the lead with a brilliant looping header.

But he did net his seventh goal this season in all competitions and seven minutes later Calhanoglu made absolutely sure of the points from the penalty spot.