Lautaro Martínez and Yann Bisseck also found the net for the league-leading Nerazzurri, extending their lead at the top of Serie A to six points over Napoli, who are scheduled to play relegation-threatened Empoli on Monday. Cagliari, meanwhile, remain six points above the relegation zone.
Despite the looming Champions League showdown at the San Siro on Wednesday, where Inter will defend a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Munich, Inter coach Simone Inzaghi opted for minimal squad rotation. His decision was rewarded with a positive start as Inter broke the deadlock in the 13th minute. Hakan Çalhanoğlu's lofted pass was chested down by Carlos Augusto towards Lautaro, but Arnautovic reacted quickest, seizing the opportunity to powerfully strike the ball into the roof of the net.
Lautaro got his name on the scoresheet in the 26th minute, courtesy of a clever through ball from Arnautovic. The Argentine World Cup winner raced clear of the Cagliari defense and calmly dinked his shot over the advancing goalkeeper Elia Caprile.
Cagliari managed to pull a goal back shortly after the restart when Roberto Piccoli was left unmarked in the box to head home. However, Inter swiftly restored their two-goal cushion just seven minutes later, with Bisseck heading in from a corner kick.
Vlahovic Assists Propel Juventus Past Lecce in Champions League Push
Turin, Italy - Dusan Vlahovic played a crucial role in Juventus' 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Lecce, providing two assists to bolster the Old Lady's hopes of securing a Champions League qualification spot.
The win propelled Juventus into third place in the Serie A standings, one point ahead of Atalanta. Atalanta were set to face Bologna later on Sunday in a direct encounter for a top-four finish. Bologna are closely trailing Atalanta by a single point, and sit two points above Lazio, who were also scheduled to play their city rivals Roma on Sunday.
Juventus made a lightning-fast start in Turin, opening the scoring within the first 100 seconds. Vlahovic controlled a through ball from Khéphren Thuram and delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Teun Koopmeiners, who slotted an angled drive into the far bottom corner.
Lecce nearly responded immediately, but Nikola Krstovic's effort struck the right post. Instead, Juventus doubled their advantage in the 33rd minute with a well-executed team goal. Thuram played a one-two with Kenan Yıldız before laying the ball off to Vlahovic, who then teed up Yıldız to fire into the bottom right corner.
Lecce captain Federico Baschirotto headed in a consolation goal three minutes from time, but it proved insufficient as Juventus secured the vital three points.
Venezia Edge Past Monza in Survival Battle
Venice, Italy - Venezia significantly boosted their chances of avoiding relegation with a crucial 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Monza, whose prospects of staying in Serie A appear increasingly bleak.
Daniel Fila scored his first goal for Venezia since his February move from Slavia Prague, netting the decisive goal in the encounter. However, his joy was short-lived as he received a second yellow card and was sent off in stoppage time.
The win lifted Venezia level on points with Empoli, just two points adrift of safety. Meanwhile, Monza remain 11 points below 17th-placed Lecce with only six rounds of matches remaining.