Internazionale postpones decision in Milan title fight until the last moment


Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 10:42 PM• Shane Jebbink • Last update: 22:49

Internazionale has taken three points on a visit to Cagliari, with which the team has postponed the title party of city rivals AC Milan for at least a week. I Nerazzurri took a double lead via Matteo Darmian and Lautaro Martínez and finished the job after a goal against Cagliari via Martínez again: 1-3. With two points behind AC Milan on the final day, Inter need at least a draw from Sassuolo against his arch rival to become champions. Then Inter themselves also have to beat Sampdoria.

Cagliari goalkeeper Alessio Cragno was put to the test after three minutes by a low shot from Ivan Perisic, but the goalkeeper was ready for the shot. Also on the other side, the keeper was forced to make a save, where Lykogiannis found Samir Handanovic on his way to the goal. Inter appeared to open the scoring after 11 minutes in the Sardegna Arena, but Milan Skriniar’s goal was judged offside by VAR.

Fifteen minutes later, the visitors from Milan took the lead. Perisic put the ball in excellently from the left and found a coming in Darmian, who towered over Lykogiannis and headed the ball in. On the stroke of half-time, Inter appeared to be taking a double lead when Martínez pulled out of the turn on a cross from Nicolò Barella. However, the Argentinian’s attempt landed on the post, after which the rebound was also not spent on the striker.

Martínez was successful shortly after the break. Barella sent the forward into the depths, after which he shielded the ball excellently from Giorgio Altare and shot the ball behind Cragno. Inter seemed to take distance with the second goal, but Simone Inzaghi’s side was surprised by a devastating long shot from Lykogiannis. The Greek left back of Cagliari brought the tension back into the game with his goal.

Fifteen minutes before the end, Perisic was able to head towards the goal after a good cross by substitute Denzel Dumfries, but his attempt went just wide. Moments later, Martínez closed the game after all. Substitute Roberto Gagliardini was sent down by Marcelo Brozovic. The midfielder in turn found Martínez, who tipped the ball over Cragno. Dumfries seemed to provide the final chord in injury time, but the Dutch right back hit the post.

No. Team m W G V † Pnt
1 AC Milan 37 25 8 4 35 83
2 Internazionale 37 24 9 4 49 81
3 Napoli 37 23 7 7 40 76
4 Juventus 36 20 9 7 22 69
5 Lazio 36 18 8 10 19 62
6 AS Roma 37 17 9 11 13 60
7 Fiorentina 36 18 5 13 9 59
8 Atalanta 37 16 11 10 18 59
9 Hellas Verona 37 14 10 13 6 52
10 Torino 37 13 11 13 8 50
11 Sassuolo 37 13 11 13 1 50
12 Udinese 37 10 14 13 -1 44
13 Bologna 37 11 10 16 -12 43
14 empoli 37 9 11 17 -21 38
15 special 37 10 6 21 -27 36
16 sampdoria 36 9 6 21 -17 33
17 Salernitana 37 7 10 20 -41 31
18 Cagliari 37 6 11 20 -34 29
19 Genoa 37 4 16 17 -32 28
20 Venice 37 6 8 23 -35 26