Calhanoglu's Early Goal Secures Inter Victory Against Cagliari

Inter Milan secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Cagliari, thanks to an early goal from Hakan Calhanoglu, propelling them to six points in the league standings. The Nerazzurri controlled large portions of the match but failed to capitalize on their numerous scoring opportunities. In the closing stages, Cagliari showed increased intensity, putting the Italian champions under pressure, but Simone Chivu's side ultimately held on for the three points.

Martínez 6.5 - Enjoyed a largely uneventful 60 minutes. He then stepped up with a crucial save and a vital intervention off his line.

Pavard 7 - Returning to the Inter starting lineup a year after his departure for Marseille, he made a positive impression, demonstrating reliability and exuding confidence. He finished the match as a wide player.

Akanji 5 - Struggled throughout the match. Even during Inter's dominant periods, the Swiss defender did not appear as an impenetrable force. He also lacked composure in build-up play. Replaced by Stones 6.5 in the 68th minute, who was instrumental in seeing out the result during the team's late defensive struggles.

Bastoni 6.5 - Remained composed and effectively shut down Cagliari's forwards when called upon defensively.

Luis Henrique 6 - Contributed effectively in build-up play and showed flashes of attacking threat, but his influence waned significantly as the game progressed. Replaced by Bisseck 7 in the 81st minute, who made a miraculous goal-line clearance with his head from Adopo's shot.

Barella 7 - A dominant performance, showcasing his ability to win possession, dictate play, and provide support to the forwards. He also produced a magical assist for Pio.

Calhanoglu 6.5 - Scored from distance with apparent ease. He once again opened the scoring, this time with a low, precise shot into the corner, rather than relying on sheer power. Replaced by Zielinski 6.5 in the 65th minute, who excelled at managing the tempo and was a steadying presence for Inter as Cagliari's pressure mounted. He set up Lautaro for a chance that went unconverted.

Sucic 6.5 - Given a start by Chivu after an impressive cameo against Monza, the Croatian confirmed his good form. He was a strong presence in both defensive and offensive phases, proving effective in transitions and contributing quality in possession. Replaced by Jones 6 in the 65th minute, who managed to cope despite the challenging circumstances of his debut.

Dimarco 6 - Not his most impactful performance. While he initiated some interesting combinations, he was also involved in the numerous missed opportunities.

Lautaro 5.5 - Wasted a significant number of chances, which detracted from an otherwise industrious and mobile performance.

Esposito 5 - Put in a lot of hard work but failed to convert when presented with clear goal-scoring opportunities, missing two significant chances. Replaced by Thuram 5.5 in the 65th minute, this was not the ideal start to his season. Chivu needed more from him to hold up the play.

Chivu 6 - While Inter's dominance for most of the match was evident, the late period of struggle should serve as a wake-up call. Failing to close out games can lead to the loss of valuable points.