Darmian netted his third Inter Milan goal
Matteo Darmian was the unlikely hero as Inter Milan beat Cagliari to extend their Serie A lead to 11 points.
The former Manchester United full-back tapped home Achraf Hakimi's cross with 14 minutes remaining to seal an 11th successive victory.
Strugglers Cagliari had frustrated Inter who saw defender Stefan de Vrij head against the bar after 68 minutes.
Antonio Conte's side now require 16 points from eight games to win their first league title since 2009-10.
After second-placed AC Milan defeated Parma 3-1 on Saturday, forward Romelu Lukaku had a rare off day as Inter struggled to finish their numerous chances.
But Parma loanee Darmian pounced to leave relegation-threatened Cagliari five points from safety in 18th.
-
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Inter Milan
Formation 3-5-2
1Handanovic
37Skriniar6de Vrij95Bastoni
36Darmian24Eriksen77Brozovic12Sensi15Young
9Lukaku7Sánchez
1Handanovic
37Skriniar
6de Vrij
95Bastoni
36DarmianSubstituted forD'Ambrosioat 84'minutes
24EriksenSubstituted forGagliardiniat 81'minutes
77BrozovicBooked at 52mins
12SensiSubstituted forVecinoat 81'minutes
15YoungSubstituted forHakimiat 70'minutes
9Lukaku
7SánchezSubstituted forMartínezat 70'minutes
Substitutes
2Hakimi
5Gagliardini
8Vecino
10Martínez
13Ranocchia
14Perisic
27Padelli
33D'Ambrosio
97Radu
99Pinamonti
Cagliari
Formation 3-5-2
31Vicario
24Rugani2Godín44Carboni
25Zappa8Marin4Nainggolan32Duncan18Nández
10Geraldino dos Santos Galvão30Pavoletti
31Vicario
24RuganiSubstituted forSimeoneat 84'minutes
2Godín
44Carboni
25ZappaSubstituted forCerriat 90'minutes
8Marin
4NainggolanBooked at 90mins
32DuncanSubstituted forAsamoahat 72'minutes
18Nández
10Geraldino dos Santos Galvão
30PavolettiSubstituted forPereiroat 90+1'minutes
Substitutes
1Aresti
3Tripaldelli
9Simeone
15Klavan
16Calabresi
19Asamoah
20Pereiro
22Lykogiannis
27Cerri
34Ciocci
40Walukiewicz
Referee: Luca Pairetto
Match Stats
Home TeamInter MilanAway TeamCagliari
Possession
Home53%
Away47%
Shots
Home15
Away7
Shots on Target
Home7
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away0
Fouls
Home10
Away12
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Inter Milan 1, Cagliari 0.
90'+4'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Inter Milan 1, Cagliari 0.
90'+3'
Booking
Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'
Post update
Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
90'+3'
Post update
Foul by Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari).
90'+2'
Post update
Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Diego Godín (Cagliari).
90'+1'
Substitution
Substitution, Cagliari. Gastón Pereiro replaces Leonardo Pavoletti.
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Cagliari. Alberto Cerri replaces Gabriele Zappa.
90'
Post update
Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'
Post update
Foul by Leonardo Pavoletti (Cagliari).
90'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Radja Nainggolan (Cagliari) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Razvan Marin.
90'
Post update
Attempt blocked. Leonardo Pavoletti (Cagliari) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
88'
Post update
Attempt missed. João Pedro (Cagliari) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gabriele Zappa with a cross.
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Cagliari. Giovanni Simeone replaces Daniele Rugani.
84'
Substitution
Substitution, Inter Milan. Danilo D'Ambrosio replaces Matteo Darmian.
82'
Post update
Foul by Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan).
82'
Post update
Razvan Marin (Cagliari) wins a free kick on the right wing.
81'
Substitution
Substitution, Inter Milan. Matías Vecino replaces Stefano Sensi.
81'
Substitution
Substitution, Inter Milan. Roberto Gagliardini replaces Christian Eriksen.
Page 1 of 5
rewind
previous
Navigate to the next pagenext Navigate to the last pageforward
Source: bbc.com