Inter thumps Cagliari to move closer to Scudetto
Marcus Thuram's hot streak in front of goal continued as he helped Inter Milan to a 3-0 win over Cagliari, moving it one step closer to the Serie A title.
Thuram and Nicolo Barella scored in the space of four minutes, before Piotr Zielinski added a late third, moving Inter 12 points clear at the top of the table ahead of the rest of the weekend's action.
The first half saw few clear-cut chances at San Siro, although Federico Dimarco saw a close-range poke cleared off the line by Michel Adopo 17 minutes in after Thuram's low drive from an offside position was pushed away.
Francesco Pio Esposito saw a strike from the left of the box parried by Caprile, but it was Inter's fast start to the second half that secured all three points.
Dimarco pushed forward down the left to fizz a low ball across the face of goal to Thuram, who tapped into an empty net while unmarked at the far post in the 52nd minute.
Just four minutes later, Barella doubled Inter's lead. After some pinball in the box, the Inter captain put his laces through a fierce shot on the edge of the box.
Barella was reluctant to celebrate, but was hoisted on to the shoulders of Thuram as Inter enjoyed a goal which tightened its grip on the Scudetto.
Cagliari struggled to muster a response, and Zielinski added some late gloss to the scoreline, with his first-time effort swerving into the top-right corner in the 92nd minute.
"It's been a year with more ups and downs, and that annoys me because I always want to be at my best," Barella said.
"Now I feel good again and I'm trying to give everything as always. Sometimes you can have a mental block, but right now I'm enjoying the moment."
In his first season in charge, Cristian Chivu could well deliver a domestic double with his Inter side back at the San Siro on Wednesday (AEST) to face Como in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg, after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
