Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Cagliarivs.Inter Milan

sportsmole.co.uk, 26 December 2024, 12:58
Aiming to finish a successful year with a streak of five straight Serie A wins, Inter Milan will visit Cagliari on Saturday, as both sides play their final fixture of 2024.

In addition to reclaiming the Scudetto, Inter have won the most matches, scored the most goals and conceded the fewest since the start of January; while they are in the thick of another title race, their hosts are stuck inside the drop zone.

Match preview

Either side of cruising though to the Coppa Italia quarter-finals earlier this month, Inter recorded two more league wins without conceding a goal, first thumping Lazio 6-0 in Rome before defeating Como at San Siro.

The latter game was still in the balance until second-half stoppage time, when Marcus Thuram hammered home a brilliant second goal to finally finish off the Nerazzurri's regional rivals.

Amid what a closely contested scrap for the Scudetto, Simone Inzaghi's side ensured they would stay within three points of top spot at Christmas - with one game in hand on both Atalanta BC and Napoli.

This calendar year, Inter have been Italy's dominant force, having won 26 out of 37 top-flight games and lost only twice - most recently in September.

Also impressing in the Champions League - despite recently suffering their first setback, away to Bayer Leverkusen - the Milan giants have plenty to look forward to in 2025, starting with next week's Supercoppa Italiana.

First, Inzaghi's men must try to end this year in style, as they convene with one of their favourite opponents: Inter have won seven of their last eight league matches in Cagliari, including all of the last four.

Not only have Cagliari lost 10 of their last 13 top-flight meetings with Saturday's visitors - shipping goals at a rate of 2.5 goals per game - their record in year-ending fixtures also pales by comparison with Inter's.

In Serie A, the Sardinian side have failed to win any of their last six, while the Nerazzurri are unbeaten in eight, so both history and current form will be stacked against the Rossoblu on Saturday.

Cagliari lost their last three games before Christmas - to Fiorentina, Atalanta and relegation rivals Venezia - and they occupy 18th place in the table, just shy of the 2024-25 campaign's halfway stage.

The latter defeat was probably most painful, as they were beaten by one of the few teams below them: despite Leonardo Pavoletti's late header sparking a siege, they ultimately went down 2-1 at Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo.

After a relatively bright start, Davide Nicola's side have now won only one of their last nine league matches, in addition to crashing out of the Coppa Italia - and Inter will not arrive in Sardinia bearing gifts.

Cagliari Serie A form:

D

D

W

L

L

L

Cagliari form (all competitions):

D

W

L

L

L

L

Inter Milan Serie A form:

W

D

W

W

W

W

Inter Milan form (all competitions):

W

W

L

W

W

W

Team News

Before heading off to Saudi Arabia to contest the Supercoppa Italiana, Simone Inzaghi is expected to name his strongest available XI on Saturday evening.

Inter are still without Benjamin Pavard due to injury, and Francesco Acerbi's return remains in some doubt, but Matteo Darmian should be back on the bench after missing last week's win over Como.

Set to join Marcus Thuram up front, captain Lautaro Martinez has scored nine goals in as many league games against Cagliari to date - and five of his last six in Serie A have come away from home.

Meanwhile, the hosts' sole absentee is Zito Luvumbo, who has been ruled out by a sprained ankle, but Davide Nicola is still expected to make some changes; notably, Nicolas Viola is vying to displace Gianluca Gaetano in support of lone striker Roberto Piccoli.

Veteran 'super-sub' Leonardo Pavoletti moved fifth in the Rossoblu's all-time Serie A goals list by finding the net in Venice last time out, but he is most likely to start on the bench.

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Sherri; Zappa, Luperto, Palomino; Zortea, Adopo, Makoumbou, Marin, Augello; Viola; Piccoli

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Bisseck, De Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Martinez, Thuram

We say: Cagliari 1-3 Inter Milan

Inter have spent the most minutes leading matches this season (683) while Cagliari have been ahead for the fewest (99), and they should both continue in the same vein this weekend.

The champions will be in no mood to relent as they try to apply pressure on several title rivals; their ailing hosts are in no position to stop them.

Written by

Jonathan O'Shea

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly enquired about the availability of Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo amidst speculation that he will be allowed to leave in the summer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola will miss Manchester City's Premier League clash against relegation-threatened Leicester City at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Wrexham have revealed a club record turnover in their latest financial results. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will lock horns with Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final at the Metropolitano. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole that the "breakout performance" of Nico O'Reilly against Bournemouth is one that manager Pep Guardiola will find "impossible to ignore". 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk With eight games to save their second-tier status, a resurgent Derby County will welcome Preston North End to Pride Park for a Championship battle on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica can move level at the top of the Primeira Liga when they host relegation-threatened SC Farense at Estadio da Luz on Wednesday in round 27. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk After securing their place in the FA Cup semi-finals, Crystal Palace will turn their focus back to Premier League action for Wednesday's meeting with Southampton at St Mary's. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Daniel Levy has told Tottenham fans the club must spend within its means amid calls for them to spend more in the transfer window. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk History could be in the making on Wednesday night when fourth-tier AS Cannes welcome Reims to the Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Viktor Gyokeres is a complete striker who will guarantee Arsenal goals in abundance - something fellow target Benjamin Sesko cannot offer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has taken to social media to declare his immediate commitment to the Premier League club. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool and Everton will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the second Merseyside derby of the season this midweek. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has provided a positive fitness update on Chris Wood ahead of Tuesday's Premier League fixture against Manchester United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur will look to make amends for the disappointing defeat they suffered at Fulham before the international break when they make another trip across London to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Andoni Iraola hasn't 'done enough' to justify leaving Bournemouth for the manager hotseat at Tottenham. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be bidding to avoid ending a 103-year streak in Tuesday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is available following a hamstring injury. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton are set to remain without wide pair Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil for the short trip across Stanley Park to face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool could be forced to start Jarell Quansah at right-back once again when they welcome Everton to Anfield for the Merseyside derby in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition is here as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool and Everton lock horns in the Merseyside derby for the second time in two months when the two long-standing rivals go head-to-head at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira has played down Matheus Cunha's comments regarding his future at Molineux. 31 March 2025 talksport.com A Serie A star was forced to address a bizarre injury that has been compared to a 'zombie bite'. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool youngster Ben Doak is reportedly wanted by local rivals Everton ahead of the summer transfer window. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has claimed that the club are "well protected" from the outcome regarding the striker Liam Delap. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool duo Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott are reportedly admired by Newcastle United as the summer transfer window approaches. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Everton manager David Moyes hasn't stepped foot in their new stadium and won't until one thing in particular is completed. 31 March 2025 talksport.com The Premier League action roars back into action after the international break - and talkSPORT has you covered. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will seemingly have to remain patient to find out who will complete their group at the Club World Cup.
Fri 04 Apr, 18:45
A
Genoa Genoa
-
sch
Udinese Udinese