Inter Milan vs Cagliari preview, H2H, team news, line-ups and prediction

Soon to be Italian Champions, Inter Milan will host an in-form Cagliari side in Serie A match week 32 at San Siro. 

With seven matches remaining, the Nerazzuri are only two victories away from winning their 20th Scudetto title, the second-most in Italian football history, behind Juventus with 36 League titles.

Inter have been flawless all season, moreso since the turn of the year. Simone Inzaghi’s side have only dropped points in five of the 31 matches they have played this season, recording 26 wins, four draws and only one loss coming against Sassuolo in September 2023.

While the Serie A table leaders may be disappointed about their Champions League and Coppa Italia elimination, all efforts will be put into securing the coveted Scudetto which will ultimately be decided in the Derby della Madonnina when Inter face local arch-rivals, AC Milan on 22nd April.

The Nerazzuri made it 10 wins in their last 11 matches at home when they visited the Bluenergy Stadium to face relegation-threatened Udinese. The match saw Inter set a new record of 76.9% possession, the most number of registered possessions in a single Serie A match over the past 20 seasons.

The hosts took a surprise lead in the 40th minute with their first and only shot on target in the game through Lazar Samardzic.

A poor communication among Inter’s defenders allowed a deflected cross from the Udinese midfielder to frizzle its way to the back of the net.

Gabriele Cioffi had his side set up in a compact defensive low-block shape that made it difficult for Inter to penetrate or carve any clear-cut chance.  However, the Nerazzuri finally had their best chance of the game when Hakan Calhanoglu sent in a rocket of a strike that was aiming for the top corner, but a stupendous save from Udinese’s goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye ensured the hosts went into the break with a one-goal lead.

Inzaghi’s side returned from the break with much vigour as they completely dominated proceedings and began to find openings in the Friulani’s backline.

Inter were awarded a penalty following Okoye’s collision with Marcus Thuram which Calhanoglu dispatched to draw Inter level. A stoppage-time winner from Davide Frattesi ensured that the Nerazzuri now sit 14 points clear of Milan in second place.

For the visitors, Cagliari extended their unbeaten run at home to four matches when they came from behind to beat Atalanta 2:1.

Despite a disastrous start to the season, Claudio Ranieri’s side are beginning to turn the tide around as they currently sit in 13th place on 30 points, four points above Frosinone in the relegation zone.

The 1:0 loss to Monza was the only loss in Cagliari’s impressive run of games in the last seven matches that has propelled them to safety as they aim to remain in the Italian top division.

The Rossoblù ensured their impressive streak continued and were unperturbed despite going behind to Atalanta in the 13th minute through Gianluca Scamacca.

Tommaso Augello’s 42nd-minute strike found the back of the net to level the scoring for the home side before Nicolas Viola equalised late in regulation time to send the home fans at the Stadio Unipol Domus into ruptures.

They now gear up to face an Inter side that are eager to end the season in style. However, with the fears of relegation looming, Ranieri’s side are capable of gaining at least a point in this match just as they did when they faced Napoli.

Inter Milan Vs Cagliari match details

• Date: Sunday 14 April, 2024
• Location: Milan, Italy
• Venue: San Siro
• Kick-off time: 19:45 PM BST, 10:54 PM CEST, 18:45 PM UTC
• Referee: Francesco Fourneau
• Tickets: Supporters can buy Inter Milan tickets via the club exchange or through trusted online resellers.

Match stats and head-to-head

• Inter and Cagliari have clashed 86 times in Serie A with the Nerazzuri leading the tally with 43 wins while the Rossoblù have recorded only 14 wins. Draws have been recorded in 28 of these ties.

• Inzaghi’s side have defeated Cagliari in each of the last five matches in Serie A with an aggregate scoreline of 13-2.

• Inter’s 147 goals in 85 matches is the most number of goals any side have scored against Cagliari.

•Former Cagliari midfielder, Nicolò Barella has recorded four assists against his former side, the most he has recorded against any team in the Serie A.

• Inter’s win over Udinese extended their unbeaten streak to 24 matches in Serie A.

• The Nerazzuri are yet to lose a game in Serie A since the turn of the year, recording 11 wins in 12 matches and conceding only six goals in that run.

• Inter’s 82-point lead at the top of the Serie A is the most by any team after 31 games since Juventus in the 2018-19 season.

• Cagliari have netted 12 goals from substitutes this season, the most by any team in Serie A after Milan.

• After a run of four successive defeats, Ranieri’s side are now on an impressive streak, losing only one of their last seven matches.

Team news 

Inzaghi’s side will be without captain and leading goalscorer, Lautaro Martinez who will be suspended for this clash following an accumulation of five yellow cards.

Benjamin Pavard will also be absent with suspension after accumulating his fifth yellow card in the 2:1 win over Udinese.

Marco Arnautovic returned to the squad after spending a spell on the sidelines with an injury he suffered in the first-leg  victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.

Both Arnautovic and Alexis Sanchez will be vying for a spot in the starting lineup to pair with Thuram upfront.

Stefan de Vrij has returned to training and will be in contention for s starting berth at San Siro on Sunday.

Alessandro Bastoni who suffered a flexor injury will be accessed before the game while Juan Cuadrado remains Inter’s longest absentee with an Achilles injury.

For the visitors, Andrea Petagna, Leonardo Pavoletti and Marco Mancosu all missed the clash against Atalanta last weekend and are unlikely to feature in this matchup as the attacking trio continues to recuperate from injury.

Zito Luvumbo returned to full fitness and will be in contention when the Rossoblù travel to Milan on Sunday.

Predicted starting lineup

Inter Milan predicted starting lineup:

Sommer; Pavard, Acerbi, Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Arnautovic

Cagliari predicted starting lineup:

Scuffet; Zappa, Mina, Dossena, Augello; Makoumbou, Deiola; Nandez, Gaetano, Luvumbo; Lapadula

Prediction

Preparations for a victory parade are well underway as Milan are close to being crowned Champions.

Despite leading with 14 points, the Nerazzuri continue to show high-level performances, leaving no room for rustiness.

Inzaghi is tipped to use his strongest lineup but the absence of talisman Martinez will be a huge loss for Inter.

Cagliari on the other hand have found their mojo and are beginning to grind out results in recent weeks. They will put up a fight against Inter and will aim for a point to boost their survival chances.

We’re predicting a 2:1 win for Inter.