Italy Inter won both opening Serie A matches for the first time in five consecutive seasons, beating hosts Cagliari 2-0 in the second round on August 28.
At the Sardegna Arena, Inter were slightly better with 67% possession, 17 shots with three on target, compared to Cagliari's 12 and 2. In the 14th minute, Lautaro Martinez threatened the home team's goal with a left-footed volley that hit the post.
Lautaro in a finishing move in the 2-0 win over home team Cagliari on August 28. Photo: inter.it
Inter didn't have to regret it for long as they took the lead seven minutes later. New signing Marcus Thuram dribbled outside the box and passed the ball to Denzel Dumfries, who ran in to finish with a one-touch cross just beyond the reach of goalkeeper Boris Radunovic. Marcus Thuram made his first Serie A assist, 17 years and 282 days after his father Lilian Thuram's last in the competition - the pass for David Trezeguet to score against AS Roma on 19 November 2005.
Inter sealed the game in the 30th minute, when Martinez met Federico Dimarco's pass, feinted past two Cagliari players and fired into the near post to seal a 2-0 win. The Argentine moved to the top of the scorers' table with three goals, level with Olivier Giroud and Victor Osimhen, after scoring twice in the opening 2-0 home win over Monza.
For the first time in history, Inter have won their opening two Serie A games in five consecutive seasons. Their achievements in the previous four seasons were third place in 2022-23, second in 2021-22, champions in 2020-21 and second in 2019-20.
Inter are one of four teams to have kept a winning streak in Serie A this season, alongside Verona, AC Milan and defending champions Napoli. In the next round on September 3, Inter return home to host Fiorentina.
Main developments of the match Cagliari 0-2 Inter on August 28.
This summer, Inter said goodbye to many key players such as Romelu Lukaku, Edin Dzeko, Andre Onana, Milan Skriniar and recruited Thuram, Alexis Sanchez, Yann Sommer, Juan Cuadrado and most likely Benjamin Pavard from Bayern.
After the win over Cagliari, when asked if this season's squad is stronger than last season, coach Simone Inzaghi replied: "That's what we hope for. The club has said goodbye to many important players, changed 10 members of the team, but Inter is still an organized team with tactical principles. Those are good signs for a coach."
Line-up :
Cagliari : Radunovic; Zappa (Shomurodov 85), Dossena, Obert, Augello; Nandez, Makoubou, Sulemana (Deiola 85), Jankto (Azzi 60); Pavoletti (Luvumbo 35), Oristanio (Di Pardo 46).
Inter : Sommer; Darmian, Stefan de Vrij, Bastoni; Dumfries (Cuadrado 71), Barella (Frattesi 71), Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan (Sensi 82), Dimarco (Augusto 71); Thuram (Arnautovic 77), Martinez.
Hong Duy
Source link
Comment (0)