Inter Milan continued their dominant form in Serie A with a commanding 3-0 victory over Cagliari at San Siro, further solidifying their position at the top of the league table. A second-half blitz propelled Simone Inzaghi's side—now under interim management following Christian Chivu's temporary charge—to a 12-point lead at the summit, bringing them one step closer to securing the Scudetto.

Thuram and Barella Seal the Win

The match saw limited opportunities in the first half, despite Inter's early pressure. Federico Dimarco had a goal-line clearance deny him early on after Marcus Thuram’s low drive from an offside position spilled into his path. Cagliari’s goalkeeper, Caprile, also made a crucial save to deny Francesco Pio Esposito.

However, the second half told a different story. In the 52nd minute, Dimarco surged down the left flank and delivered a precise low cross to the far post, where Thuram calmly tapped in from close range while unmarked. The French striker has now scored in each of his last three appearances, bringing his recent goal tally to four.

Just four minutes later, Inter doubled their advantage. After a scramble in the box, captain Nicolo Barella regained control and unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area that ripped into the net, leaving Caprile no chance.

Zielinski Makes History

The victory was put beyond doubt in the 92nd minute when Piotr Zielinski, coming off the bench, struck a first-time effort that curled into the top-right corner. The goal marked a personal milestone—Zielinski’s 50th in Serie A—making him the all-time top-scoring Polish player in the league's history, surpassing the previous record held by Jakub Świerczok.

Dimarco’s Record-Breaking Campaign

While the goals grabbed headlines, it was left-back Federico Dimarco who etched his name into the Serie A history books. With his assist for Thuram’s opener, Dimarco reached 21 goal involvements (6 goals, 15 assists) for the season—becoming the first defender since Opta began collecting detailed data in 2004–05 to surpass 20 combined goals and assists in a single Serie A campaign.

“Dimarco has been incredible this season,” said Inter assistant coach Christian Chivu. “His work rate, consistency, and attacking output are exceptional for a full-back. He’s been crucial to our balance.”

Looking Ahead

With this win, Inter remain firmly on course for their 21st Serie A title. The 12-point gap at the top puts immense pressure on their closest challengers as the season enters its final stretch. The focus now turns to upcoming fixtures against tougher opposition, where Chivu and the squad will aim to maintain their momentum.

“We knew Cagliari would be tough, especially after the break,” commented Thuram. “But we stayed focused, started strong in the second half, and got the goals. The title race isn’t over, but we’re building something special.”