Inter Milanvs.Cagliari

A second-half comeback helped Inter defeat Udinese and maintain their huge lead in the Serie A standings, while their Sardinian counterparts also turned things around to beat Atalanta BC.

Match preview

Indebted to Davide Frattesi's last-gasp winner in Udine, irrepressible Inter were victorious again on Monday evening, extending their unbeaten streak to some 25 games in Serie A, of which they have won no fewer than 21.

Thanks to his side's 2-1 win over Udinese, which proved far from straightforward, Simone Inzaghi's is now even closer to winning his first Scudetto as a coach and claiming Inter's 20th league title.

That feat would see the Nerazzurri become just the second club, after Juventus, to wear a cherished second star on their jersey - and it could be confirmed within the next few weeks.

They hold a 14-point advantage over AC Milan, and lead Juve by 20; so with just seven games to play - even if Milan take maximum points - Inter need only eight more to seal the deal.

The prospect of doing so against their city rivals in the upcoming Derby della Madonnina is too tantalising for most fans to even imagine, while Inzaghi's well-drilled squad cannot countenance letting their minds stray so far ahead.

Instead, taking care of business against Cagliari is first on the agenda, and with another win, they would also become the first team ever to reach 85 points at this stage of a Serie A season.

Having won each of their last five Serie A meetings with the Isolani - and by an aggregate score of 13-2 - they may expect to get the job done without too much fuss.

Beaten 2-0 at home in August's reverse fixture, Cagliari have also lost four of their last five league games against Inter at San Siro, picking up just one point for their troubles.

However, Claudio Ranieri's current side are in their best form of the season, ahead of a tough trip one of their manager's many former clubs.

After trailing at half time, they fought back strongly to topple European contenders Atalanta last week, when Nicolas Viola netted his fourth Serie A strike this term and snatched maximum points late on.

Each one of the playmaker's goals have come after leaving the bench - incidentally making him Cagliari's joint-top scorer - indicating the never-say-die spirit to be found at a club that secured promotion back to the big time via a drama-packed playoff route last year.

The Rossoblu have now lost just one of their last seven matches, after losing four times on the bounce beforehand, and an upturn since the start of March has seen them climb four points clear of the drop zone.

While only Frosinone have collected fewer points on the road this season, Ranieri's men have conceded less than a goal per game on average in their last three away matches, to bring safety within sight. The ultimate test of their mettle awaits in Milan, though.

Inter Milan Serie A form:

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Inter Milan form (all competitions):

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Cagliari Serie A form:

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Team News

Inter's top scorer with 23 goals, and the red-hot favourite to be crowned Capcannoniere next month, Lautaro Martinez will be missing from the hosts' lineup on Sunday, as he serves a one-match ban.

While their captain makes way for Marko Arnautovic or Alexis Sanchez, either of whom will partner Marcus Thuram up front, the Nerazzurri hope to have Alessandro Bastoni back on the pitch, after he was ruled out of the trip to Udine by a flexor problem.

His return would be timely, as fellow defender Benjamin Pavard joins Martinez in serving a suspension for accumulated bookings.

Cagliari, meanwhile, will travel to the second city without Alessandro Deiola and Nahitan Nandez (both suspended), plus injured trio Leonardo Pavoletti, Andrea Petagna and Marco Mancosu.

If he can overcome a minor knee issue, former Milan striker Gianluca Lapadula should start in attack at San Siro; it remains to be seen whether Nicolas Viola's latest 'supersub' cameo will earn him selection in support of the Rossoblu's front man.

Inter-owned forward Gaetano Oristanio will hope to retain his place in the final third, but Claudio Ranieri is notorious for his frequent squad rotation.

Inter Milan possible starting lineup:

Sommer; Bisseck, Acerbi, Bastoni; Darmian, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Sanchez, Thuram

Cagliari possible starting lineup:

Scuffet; Wieteska, Mina, Dossena; Zappa, Makoumbou, Sulemana, Gaetano, Augello; Luvumbo, Lapadula

We say: Inter Milan 3-0 Cagliari

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