Final score

19 February 2011 20:45

Inter
7' Ranocchia
1 - 0
Cagliari
Referee: Domenico Celi / Linesmen: Carrer, Pugiotto / Fourth official: Brighi
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' The half-time whistle blows and Inter head into the dressing rooms a goal to the good
45' Cossu hits a low ball in from the left, the ball runs free in the centre of the box, Acquafresca swoops but Nagatomo is covering and slides in to hack away just in time
45' The referee awards one minute of added time
43' Eto'o tries his luck from 20 yards. Agazzi is down to save
42' Biondini crosses from the right, Nenè heads the ball, Rannocchia deflects over
40' Kharja feeds Pandev on the left of the box but he's offside
36' Maicon hits a long ball for Pazzini to chase: Agazzi comes rushing out of his area to clear with his feet
35' Freekick to Cagliari: Lazzari tries an ambitious shot at goal from distance. Over
29' Eto'o takes a freekick in a promising position, but he doesn't connect properly and his effort is high
27' The game has been stopped to allow Ranocchia to receive attention to a head injury following a mid-air clash
26' Maicon hits a deep cross to the far post where Pandev is lurking, but Pisano is in front of him and heads behind
21' Agazzi gets down to block Eto's right-footed shot from inside the box
17' Pazzini flicks a header goalwards. Over the bar
14' Pandev lays off for Eto'o, who waits for Kharja's run before setting him up; the Moroccan's shot is miles over
12' Eto'o forces his way through the middle of the Cagliari defence and Pisano slides into to prevent Inter's top scorer from pulling the trigger, nearly putting the ball into his own net
8' Biondini strikes a vicious effort from some way out. Julio Cesar is alert to it
7' Conti is booked for protesting
7' GOAL FOR INTER: Ranocchia the scorer. Inter catch the Cagliari defence unawares with a quick freekick. Kharja's first shot is saved and his second from the rebound looks to be going in when it takes a deflection off Ranocchia
5' That's Pandev's second shot on target inside 5 minutes: his effort looks to be heading for the far corner but Agazzi gets a hand to it
4' Conti heads at goal, Julio Cesar saves
4' Lazzari gets his foot on the end of a forward ball and shoots. Corner
2' Inter are already looking dangerous: Pandev unleashes a shot from outside the box that Agazzi turns round the post
1' Welcome to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, where we're all set for Inter v Cagliari (Week 26, Serie A 2010/11)
1' Inter kick off
1' Leonardo names an unchanged back line from the midweek game against Fiorentina: in front of Julio Cesar, a central pairing of Ranocchia and Cordoba flanked by Maicon and Nagatomo; in midfield, a holding duo of Zanetti and Motta; Pandev, Kharja and Eto'o further forward; Pazzini as the side's spearhead
Minute Text commentary
50' After 5 minutes of added time, the game ends Inter 1-0 Cagliari. Ranocchia's touch in the first half was enough to claim 3 points for Inter, who now have 50 points
49' Maicon picks up a yellow
46' Mariga is booked
45' The refree signals 5 minutes of injury time
45' Biondini hits a poor effort wide
41' Ragatzu works his way into the box but Maicon stops him
38' Mariga feeds Stankovic but Astori intercepts
35' Nainggolan crosses from the right: Lazzari is beaten to the ball by Zanetti
34' Pazzini lays off for Pandev; Astori closes him down
33' Inter substitution: Mariga comes on for Kharja
29' In a crowded box three Cagliari players aim for goal but the Nerazzurri's defeince holds strong; the Lazzari's 25-yard effort goes just wide of Julio Cesar's upright
28' Lazzari's freekick from the right bounces off several players inside Inter's penalty area; Nenè's effort is blocked by Ranocchia and Inter clear their lines
27' Fresh legs for the Inter engine room come in the shape of Cambiasso, who takes over from Thiago Motta
26' Nainggolan is free in space on the left and from a crossing position attempts what appears to be a shot aimed at the far post. Wide
25' Conti's shot from outside the box takes a wicked deflection off Thiago Motta and bounces inches wide of the post
25' Another substitution for Cagliari: Cossu off, Nainggolan on
21' Pazzini collects the ball in the box and tries to wriggle free of Canini, who succeeds in clearing
20' Nenè tries his luck from distance. Julio Cesar has it covered
19' Cagliari make a change of their own: Ragatzu comes on for Acquafresca
16' Inter make their first change: Eto'o comes off with Stankovic replacing him
11' Maicon puts Pandev through on the right. Offside
9' Conti whips in a ball behind the defence for Acquafresca. Cordoba does enough to put him off and the ball runs behind
4' Canini hoofs a long ball forward for Acquafresca; Cordoba mops up
2' Cossu's cross from the right his cleared by the Nerazzurri defence but only as far as Lazzari, who hits a cracker that flies just over the bar
1' The second half gets underway. No substitutions made
Zanetti
7.64
7.64
Cordoba
6.65
6.65
Stankovic
6.32
6.32
Cambiasso
6.4
6.4
Julio Cesar
7.44
7.44
Maicon
6.77
6.77
Motta
6.36
6.36
Eto'o
6.48
6.48
Pandev
6.81
6.81
Mariga
6.48
6.48
Ranocchia
8.29
8.29
Pazzini
6.52
6.52
Kharja
6.89
6.89
Nagatomo
6.86
6.86
Average rating 6.85
4 shots on target 4
3 shots off target 7
11 fouls committed 17
9 corners 7
4 offsides 1
51 ball possession 49
First head-to-head as coaches between two ex-team-mates

This is the first time Leonardo and Roberto Donadoni have faced each other as coaches. The played together at AC Milan, between October 1997 - when Donadoni returned from his spell in the States with the Metrostars, and Leonardo had recently arrived from Paris Saint Germain - until June 1999, when Donadoni left to play his final season before retirement in the Arab Emirates with Al-Ittihad.

Leonardo always victorious against Cagliari

This is the third time Leonardo has faced Cagliari as a coach. He won both previous matches with AC Milan in 2009/10.

Inter v Donadoni: home sides always triumphant, Inter 3-1 ahead

This is the fifth time Donadoni has taken on Inter as a coach. Until now he has won 1 and lost 3. In those 4 games the home side always won.

Moratti's anniversary

On this day in 1995 Massimo Moratti watched his first game as Inter president, having become the majority shareholder the previous day. The Nerazzurri edged the league match against Brescia 1-0, with Nicola Berti netting the only goal.

One defeat for Inter in 62 home games

Inter have lost just one of their last 62 competitive matches played at the Stadio San Siro. The Nerazzurri's record in the other 61 games in that period is 47 wins (including all 8 of the last 8) and 14 draws.

Inter spread the goals around

Inter are one of four teams (along with Fiorentina, Juventus and Milan) in Serie A 2010/11 with the highest number of different scorers. The following 12 players have all hit the net for Inter: Cambiasso, Chivu, Eto'o, Kharja, Lucio, Milito, Muntari, Pandev, Pazzini, Sneijder, Stankovic and Thiago Motta.

No draws for Inter in 14 league games, in 15 for Leonardo, in 16 for Cagliari

Inter haven't drawn a game in their last 14 league fixtures, winning 9 and losing 5. Their last draw was on 10 November away to Lecce (1-1). Leonardo hasn't drawn any of his last 16 Serie A games (10 wins and 5 draws); his last draw was Milan 2-2 Catania on 11 April 2010. Cagliari haven't drawn a competitive match since 7 November, when they earned a point away at Udinese (1-1, Serie A); in the 16 games since then they have won 8 and lost 8.

Inter and Cagliari fair play

Inter and Cagliari are two of three teams in the Serie A 2010/11 season - along with Palermo - who are yet to have had a player sent off. The last player to be given their marching orders in a league tie for Inter was Muntari on 12 March 2010, in a game Inter lost 3-1 away to Catania. Since then they have played 34 league games without receiving a red card. The last Cagliari player to be shown a red card in Serie A was Cossu on 25 April, in Napoli 0-0 Cagliari. Since then they have finished 28 league games with 11 men.

When Inter and Cagliari are at their sharpest

Inter have scored more goals in the last half hour of games (including added time) than any other side in Serie A 2010/11: 25 of their 46 total goals (54.3%). 16 of those have been scored between the 61st and 75th minute (the highest number in Serie A 2010/11) and 9 in the last 15 minutes (including added time). Cagliari have scored more goals at the start of the first half than any other team in Serie A 2010/11, with 7 coming between the 1st and the 15th minute.

Conti: 315 appearances in Serie A and B, the same as Riva

Today Daniele Conti will make his 315th appearance in the red and blue of Cagliari: 213 in Serie A and 101 in Serie B. He thus equals the number of games Gigi Riva played for the Sardinians (289 in Serie A and 26 in Serie B).

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(25) draws(11) defeats(7)

starting lineups

Julio Cesar 1 Agazzi
Maicon 13 Pisano
Ranocchia 15 Astori
Cordoba 2 Canini
Nagatomo 55 Agostini
Zanetti 4 Biondini
Motta 8 Conti
Pandev 27 Lazzari
Kharja 14 Cossu
Eto'o 9 Nene'
Pazzini 7 Acquafresca

substitutes

Castellazzi 12 Pelizzoli
Materazzi 23 Ariaudo
Stankovic 5 Nainggolan
Mariga 17 Laner
Cambiasso 19 Missiroli
Obi 20 Perico
Coutinho 29 Ragatzu