Marko Arnautovic played a pivotal role in pushing Inter Milan six points clear at the top of Serie A with a goal and an assist in a 3-1 home victory over Cagliari. The Austrian forward, stepping in for Marcus Thuram as coach Simone Inzaghi rotated his squad ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, opened the scoring at the San Siro in the 13th minute with a powerful finish.
Just over ten minutes later, Arnautovic turned provider with a sweeping pass to Lautaro Martinez, who coolly chipped in his 20th goal of the season across all competitions. Inter’s commanding first-half performance set the tone for a confident display, as they maintained control despite a brief fightback from the visitors.
Cagliari, currently sitting in 15th place, briefly threatened a comeback early in the second half when Roberto Piccoli scored to make it 2-1. However, Inter responded swiftly, with Yann Bisseck restoring the two-goal cushion with a powerful header in the 55th minute, ensuring all three points stayed in Milan.
Inter now await the result of second-placed Napoli’s upcoming home match against Empoli. With a six-point cushion, the league leaders can now focus fully on their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich. Inter lead the tie 2-1 after an impressive first-leg performance in Germany.
Coach Simone Inzaghi expressed optimism ahead of the return leg, acknowledging the quality of their opponents but confident in his side’s ability to rise to the occasion. “We’ll go into that match with a lot of confidence even though we know that we’ll be playing one of the three or four best teams in the world,” said the Inter boss. He emphasized the need to replicate the intensity, discipline, and pace shown in the first leg.
Arnautovic, despite playing a secondary role for much of the season, has become increasingly influential in recent weeks. Saturday’s strike marked his fifth goal in his last ten appearances, highlighting his importance as Inter compete on multiple fronts.
At 35, Arnautovic is no stranger to Inter, having been part of the squad during their historic 2009-10 treble-winning campaign under José Mourinho. Though he played just three times during that season, Arnautovic recalled the experience fondly, saying it felt like he was “a fan cheering the team on.” This time around, he’s determined to play a more hands-on role in what could be another special season for the Nerazzurri.
Inter are chasing a second treble in club history, having already positioned themselves as firm favorites in the Serie A title race and holding a lead in their European quarter-final. They remain in contention in the Italian Cup as well, keeping hopes of repeating their historic achievement alive.
Elsewhere in Serie A, Venezia gave their survival hopes a boost with a 1-0 win over bottom-placed Monza. That result brings them within two points of Lecce, who sit just above the relegation zone and fell 2-1 at Juventus.
Juventus climbed to third place on 59 points, courtesy of an early goal from Teun Koopmeiners and a 33rd-minute strike by Kenan Yildiz. Despite dominating possession, Juve struggled to fully convince, especially after Federico Baschirotto’s late header for Lecce set up a nervy finish.
Still unbeaten under new manager Igor Tudor, who took over last month, Juventus are on track for a return to the Champions League. They currently sit a point ahead of Atalanta, who face Bologna on Sunday, and are assured of staying in the top four for at least another week. Midfielder Manuel Locatelli reinforced the club’s ambition, stressing that the team must win every remaining match to secure a place among Europe’s elite next season.
