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Hakan Calhanoglu’s second goal in as many matches was enough for Inter to secure all three points against Cagliari, though their profligacy in front of goal nearly proved costly.

The Nerazzurri had begun the season with a 4-1 win over Monza and made changes by bringing in Benjamin Pavard, Petar Sucic and Luis Henrique, while Curtis Jones was named on the bench for the first time and Djed Spence continued to work his way back to full fitness. The Sardinians had opened with a surprise 1-0 away victory over Parma, but were missing Yerry Mina and Riyad Idrissi. Yael Trepy was discharged from hospital this week, 10 days after almost drowning in a swimming pool.

Cristian Chivu, head coach of Internazionale, was in charge after Inter’s Serie A meeting with AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan on August 22, 2026.

Inter needed only nine minutes to go ahead, with Cagliari-born Nicolò Barella cutting in from the right and squaring the ball for Hakan Calhanoglu, who struck first time with his right foot from outside the box and found the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy.

Lautaro Martinez then sent an effort wide while turning, and Manuel Akanji glanced a Federico Dimarco free-kick beyond the far post. Elia Caprile kept Cagliari in the contest, first getting strong hands to a fierce Barella strike and then reacting sharply to turn a thunderous Dimarco volley over the bar.

Caprile was also late coming off his line as Barella met another chance on the volley, but Juan Rodriguez came to the rescue with a clearance virtually on the goal-line.

Alessandro Deiola put his body on the line to block a Lautaro Martinez attempt after Petar Sucic had rolled the ball across, while Luis Henrique fired narrowly over after a clever through ball from Lautaro Martinez.

Dimarco was unable to keep his first-time effort on target after an Esposito back-heel flick, and Esposito then forced Caprile into another save despite slipping as he struck from the edge of the area.

After the break, Caprile again had to react quickly, getting down to push an Esposito shot off the line from yet another Barella assist, but Cagliari responded around the hour mark.

Rodriguez stopped Esposito to allow Alieu Fadera to deliver a cross to the back post, where Josep Martinez had to get fingertips to the ball to take it away from the sliding Kevin Carlos.

Shortly afterwards, the Inter goalkeeper was forced to race outside his area and clear the danger when Kevin Carlos got through after the offside trap failed on a Michel Adopo pass.

Curtis Jones was handed his debut and John Stones also came on from the bench, while Alessandro Bastoni could not keep his finish on target from a Dimarco cut-back.

Marcus Thuram then failed to guide his header into an open net as Caprile rushed out, before also turning another Dimarco delivery from the left wide of the target.

Adam Obert blasted over from a very tight angle, but Adopo came close to levelling with a ferocious strike on a loose ball from 10 yards, only for Yann Bisseck to produce a last-ditch block. From the resulting corner, Gennaro Borrelli directed a header wide.

Lautaro Martinez beat the offside trap late on and forced Caprile into a save at the near post, but Cagliari kept pressing right until the final whistle.

Calhanoglu 9 (I)