Analysis The numbers behind the result
Inter's dominance wasted as Cagliari cling on in xG mismatch
Inter's 1-0 win barely reflected their total control, with a 3.80 xG tally dwarfing Cagliari's 0.45 — a disparity highlighting 24 shots inside the box versus the hosts' five. Hakan Calhanoglu's 9th-minute strike, assisted by Nicolo Barella, proved decisive, but Simone Inzaghi's side should have killed the game given their 65% possession and 30 total shots (seven on target). Cagliari's resistance was built on desperate defending (eight blocked shots and clearances) rather than threat, failing to register a single shot on target despite eight corners.
Inter's profligacy (converting just one of their 3.80 xG chances) kept Cagliari in contention, with Lautaro Martinez notably wasteful. The visitors' 91% pass accuracy and 678 total passes strangled the game, yet only Calhanoglu's early finish separated the sides. The telling stat: Inter's 3.35 xG overperformance gap — the largest in Serie A this matchday — exposing their lack of cutting edge despite overwhelming dominance.