The ‘Toro’ Strikes Again to Keep Inter on Top

Lautaro Martínez was once again decisive on Saturday as Inter Milan defeated Cagliari 3-1 to stay at the top of Serie A and send a strong warning to Bayern Munich, their next opponent in the Champions League quarterfinals. The Argentine striker scored his 20th goal of the season, showing he's in top form ahead of one of the biggest matches of the year.

After last weekend’s draw against Parma, which slightly threatened their three-point lead, Inter needed to bounce back—especially playing at San Siro just days before hosting Bayern. With a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Germany, they know the return match will be a battle.

There was no rest for Lautaro, unlike Bastoni, Thuram, Darmian, or Acerbi. In this kind of form, Simone Inzaghi wasn’t going to bench his star. The forward scored the second goal against Cagliari, putting the match firmly in Inter’s control and shifting the pressure to Napoli, who must win to stay in the title race.

Marko Arnautovic opened the scoring with a powerful strike from inside the box, once again proving his worth as a reliable substitute when given the chance by Inzaghi.

Rested and Ready for Bayern

But it wasn’t until Lautaro stepped up that Inter truly sealed the win. He latched onto a pass from Arnautovic and lifted a perfect chip over the goalkeeper, notching his 20th goal of the campaign—a feat he’s now achieved four seasons in a row.

With the match under control at 3-1, Inzaghi subbed him off in the 67th minute to ensure he’ll be fully fit for Wednesday’s showdown against Bayern Munich.

Shortly before that, Piccoli brieIfly reopened the game with a header that surprised Yann Sommer, echoing last week’s match against Parma, where Inter let a lead slip. But Yann Bisseck responded quickly with a header of his own from a corner, restoring the two-goal advantage and putting the game to bed.

Inter Milan didn’t falter this time at home. With leadership from Lautaro, tactical discipline from Inzaghi, and a squad chasing the treble, the team heads into its most decisive match of the season brimming with confidence. The stage is set at San Siro—and Bayern Munich has been warned.