Turkey midfielder Calhanoglu guided home a first-time strike from the edge of the box after nine minutes to make it two goals in two games and set the tone for a first half dominated by the champions in Sardinia. A combination of wayward finishing and fine goalkeeping from Elia Caprile kept the scoreline close at half-time, and Inter’s profligacy continued after the break as Lautaro Martinez, Francesco Pio Esposito and Alessandro Bastoni squandered good chances. Hakan Calhanoglu’s early strike earned Inter Milan a 1-0 win at Cagliari on Sunday as they continued a perfect start to their Serie A title defence, while Como edged Napoli 2-1 to spoil Massimiliano Allegri’s home debut.
England international Curtis Jones made his debut from the bench in the second half, but Inter’s lack of composure in front of goal almost came back to bite them as Cagliari threatened a shock equaliser with a flurry of late chances. Martin Baturina fired Cesc Fabregas’s enterprising side into a deserved lead in the 17th minute as chances fell at both ends in soaring temperatures in Naples. Rasmus Hojlund’s brilliant strike drew the hosts level on the half-hour mark, but his good work was quickly undone when a defensive mix-up led to Anastasios Douvikas scoring for the second game in a row. Kevin De Bruyne, who inspired Napoli to an opening win over Genoa with a goal and assist from the bench, was unable to turn the tide after coming on early in the second half.
Cristian Chivu’s side ended the game with 29 shots on the board and only one goal to show for them, but it was enough to send them top of the table after two games, ahead of AC Milan, Juventus and Lazio on goal difference.
“It is a very valuable win… the first half was very good and in the second we understood that we were facing champions, and we held out,” Fabregas told broadcasters DAZN.
