Inter slip up again in a 1 - 1 draw with Cagliari at San Siro

MILAN - Yet another painful 1-1 draw for Inter. Despite taking the lead early on, the Nerazzurri failed to find the goal to kill off the game and paid the price for this lack of clinicality. Cagliari add their names to the list of Inter’s recent draws alongside Atalanta and Lecce, Conte’s side dropping more points and being punished for missing their chances to make it 2-0 despite dominating the game. It was former Inter man Nainggolan who levelled the scoring, his effort from distance taking a huge deflection off Godin to beat Handanovic after Inter had taken the lead through Lautaro Martinez, the assist for the goal coming from Ashley Young. Despite an even more impressive second-half performance, Inter were stunned by Cagliari’s equaliser and Lautaro Martinez was sent off in the dying minutes for dissent. A bitter end to an afternoon in front of 70,000 noisy Nerazzurri fans who never stopped cheering on their team.

He always seems to find a way to break open even the tightest of matches, and Lautaro Martinez did exactly that once again today. Continuing in his trend of scoring in the first half an hour of games, our Argentine popped up after just 29 minutes today, heading home adeptly to make it 1-0. The perfect ball in for the goal came from new signing Young, the first Englishman to don Nerazzurri colours since Paul Ince, with this assist the icing on the cake in a perfect first-half performance from our wing-back, always dangerous in attack yet equally as alert in defence.

Lautaro’s goal arrived after a quiet first thirty minutes, Cagliari missing two half-chances as Simeone couldn’t find the target. Sensi was a constant menace this afternoon, always finding himself at the heart of the Nerazzurri’s surges forward. Lautaro was clearly up for it and his goal came after he’d already tested Cragno in the 23rd minute following some great individual play. As for the Nerazzurri’s defence, de Vrij was putting in a solid performance and Handanovic did exceptionally well to keep out Faragò’s header.

The second half was a livelier affair and full of chances. In the opening 20 minutes of the second period, Inter had a number of opportunities to double their lead. This will be the Nerazzurri’s biggest regret: not finding a way past Cragno a second time. First Lukaku hit the side netting, then Lautaro had an effort from distance. Sensi also came close on three occasions as Conte’s men kept up the pressure.

But when this pressure dropped off slightly, Cagliari, who hadn’t troubled Inter in the second half, made the Nerazzurri pay: Nainggolan’s low strike came off Godin and ended up in the net. Inter then looked to respond through Lukaku, who charged forward and fired narrowly wide of the far post with his left foot. The Nerazzurri’s final assault didn’t bring any joy and, with Inter desperately looking for a goal, Lautaro was sent off for dissent after referee Manganiello had blown his whistle for a foul in midfield.

Inter now need to respond immediately: on Wednesday, they’ll play Fiorentina in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia. Then, on Sunday, a trip to Udine will follow. On we go, giving up is not an option. Forza Inter!

INTER 1-1 CAGLIARI INTER (3-5-2): 1 Handanovic; 37 Skriniar (2 Godin 17'), 6 de Vrij, 95 Bastoni; 15 Young, 23 Barella, 20 Borja Valero, 12 Sensi (7 Sanchez 82'), 34 Biraghi (21 Dimarco 85'); 9 Lukaku, 10 Lautaro.Substitutes: 27 Padelli, 46 Berni, 11 Moses, 13 Ranocchia, 30 Esposito, 32 Agoumé, 33 D'Ambrosio.Coach: Antonio Conte.

CAGLIARI (4-3-2-1): 28 Cragno; 24 Faragò, 40 Walukiewicz, 15 Klavan, 33 Pellegrini (3 Mattiello 76'); 18 Nandez, 17 Oliva (29 Castro 74'), 21 Ionita; 4 Nainggolan (8 Cigarini 86'), 10 Joao Pedro; 99 Simeone.Substitutes: 1 Rafael, 90 Olsen, 14 Birsa, 22 Lykogiannis, 37 Gagliano, 38 Porru.Coach: Rolando Maran.

Goalscorers: 29' Lautaro (I), 78' Nainggolan (C).Bookings: Lukaku (I), Barella (I), de Vrij (I), Lautaro (I).Red card: Lautaro (I) in the 94th minute for dissent.Note: Rolando Maran (C) bookedAdded time: 3' - 4'.Referee: Manganiello.Assistants: Prete, Bresmes.