September 27, 2025 — Inter Milan earned a crucial 2-0 victory at Cagliari on Saturday, securing their second consecutive win and moving up to fifth in the Serie A standings. The victory was driven by an early goal from Lautaro Martinez and a late strike by Francesco Pio Esposito, keeping them within striking distance of the title contenders.
Martinez Opens Scoring, Esposito Seals the Win
The match started on a positive note for Inter, with Martinez putting them ahead in the 9th minute. A well-delivered cross from Alessandro Bastoni found the Argentine striker, who powered a header into the far corner from the edge of the six-yard box. It was his 12th goal against Cagliari, further solidifying their rivalry.
Despite Inter’s early dominance, the game became a scrappy, physical affair with constant interruptions from the referee. Cagliari struggled to break down Inter’s defense and failed to register a single shot on target before halftime. Inter had opportunities to extend their lead, but Hakan Calhanoglu’s strike hit the woodwork and Marcus Thuram was denied by goalkeeper Elia Caprile.
Esposito’s Late Goal Secures the Points
As the second half wore on, Inter applied more pressure, and Davide Frattesi had a goal-bound shot cleared off the line by Cagliari‘s Riyad Idrissi. Esposito, who came on as a substitute, provided the decisive moment in the 82nd minute, scoring his first Serie A goal. Federico Dimarco’s pull-back from the byline found the unmarked Esposito, who calmly steered the ball into the back of the net.
Inter’s win lifts them to 9 points, just three behind Napoli, who face AC Milan on Sunday. While Cagliari drops to 10th, having 7 points.
Brotherly Rivalry: Esposito vs. Esposito
In an emotional subplot, Francesco Esposito faced off against his older brother Sebastiano, who is on loan at Cagliari from Inter. Despite his team’s defeat, Sebastiano had a rare chance for the hosts, but his volley attempt from a corner was well off target.
Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni reflected on the match, acknowledging that the game was far from secure, especially after Cagliari‘s close call with Michael Folorunsho‘s header off the post. “If that header goes in, we are talking about another game,” Bastoni said.
With this victory, Inter Milan remains firmly in the hunt for the title, especially with the likes of Lautaro Martinez and Francesco Esposito showing their potential early in the season. The team will look to continue their form in the upcoming fixtures.
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