Inter Milan began their Serie A campaign with a stubborn 1-0 win over Cagliari at the Unipol Domus, securing a crucial away victory that underlined their title ambitions. In a match that demanded patience and tactical discipline, a solitary strike from Lautaro Martinez proved enough to separate the sides late in the second half.

Match Overview

Cagliari, playing in front of their home supporters, set up in a compact 4-4-2 mid-block and made life difficult for Inter's build-up play throughout the opening exchanges. The hosts, eager to avoid a repeat of last season's defensive collapses, pressed aggressively at the back and forced Inter into wide areas. Despite dominating possession, the Nerazzurri struggled to carve out clear-cut chances in the first half, with Federico Dimarco's curling free-kick and a glancing header from Marcus Thuram the closest they came to breaking the deadlock.

Cagliari's goalkeeper Simone Scuffet produced an inspired performance in the early stages, denying Thuram from a one-on-one in the 23rd minute and then palm away a thunderous effort from Nicolò Barella from the edge of the box. The home side grew into the contest as the half wore on, with Zito Luvumbo's pace on the counter twice stretching Inter's high defensive line, though his final balls lacked precision.

The Defining Moment

Inter found the breakthrough in the 57th minute after a sustained period of pressure. A patient passing move drew Cagliari out of shape, and Nicolò Barella slipped a perfectly weighted through-ball into the path of Lautaro Martinez, who had timed his run between the centre-backs. The Argentine captain kept his composure, opening his body and curling a first-time finish into the far corner beyond Scuffet's reach. It was a moment of clinical quality that highlighted Inter's ability to pounce on the smallest of defensive lapses.

Tactical Story

Simone Inzaghi's side controlled the tempo with over 63% possession, but Cagliari's low block and disciplined midfield shape made it a frustrating evening for the visitors. Inter shifted from a traditional 3-5-2 to a more fluid diamond in the second half, pushing Henrikh Mkhitaryan higher to create overloads in the half-spaces. The changes stretched the pitch and opened the diagonal lanes that ultimately produced the winning goal.

Cagliari, meanwhile, showed encouraging signs under their new-look coaching setup. They stayed compact, contested every second ball, and carried a direct threat through Luvumbo and Gianluca Lapadula. However, a lack of quality in the final third meant they rarely tested Inter's back three, with Yann Sommer enjoying a relatively quiet evening between the posts.

Standout Players

• Simone Scuffet (Cagliari): Made several outstanding saves early and remained a commanding presence on crosses, keeping the hosts in touch until the very end.
• Nicolò Barella (Inter): The midfield engine room gave the assist for the only goal and controlled the tempo with sharp passing and relentless pressing.
• Alessandro Bastoni (Inter): Pushed forward with composure and provided key ball progression, giving Inter a valuable extra dimension in build-up.

Season Impact

The win sends Inter to the top of the early Serie A standings with three points from their opening fixture, delivering an early psychological statement in the title race. For Cagliari, the narrow defeat will sting, but the performance offered clear defensive improvement and a competitive benchmark against one of the division's elite sides. As the season unfolds, these are exactly the kind of resilient displays that could keep the Sardinian club clear of the relegation scrap.