Marko Arnautovic inspires Inter Milan to 3-1 win over Cagliari in Serie A

Arnautovic stars in key Inter Milan victory as Serie A leaders prepare for Bayern clash.

Marko Arnautovic of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 12, 2025, in Milan, Italy. Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

Marko Arnautovic inspires Inter Milan with a standout performance in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Cagliari at San Siro, moving the Nerazzurri six points clear at the top of Serie A. The Austrian forward played a crucial role in the win, scoring the opener and assisting Lautaro Martinez for the second goal, just days before Inter face Bayern Munich in a decisive Champions League quarter-final second leg.

With Inter coach Simone Inzaghi opting to rest Marcus Thuram ahead of the high-stakes European showdown, Arnautovic stepped up with his best display of the season. His thunderous 13th-minute strike set the tone, and his precise pass to Martinez 13 minutes later helped the Argentine notch his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.

Cagliari, sitting precariously in 15th place, managed to reduce the deficit early in the second half through Roberto Piccoli. However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly dashed when Yann Bisseck powered home a header in the 55th minute to secure all three points for Inter.

Arnautovic’s timely resurgence lifts Inter

Marko Arnautovic has largely been a fringe figure this season, but his recent form suggests he could yet become vital in the run-in. Saturday’s performance marked his fifth goal in his last 10 matches, proving that the 35-year-old still has the ability to impact games at the highest level.

“It’s always about staying ready,” Arnautovic said post-match. “When the team needs me, I give everything. Of course, scoring and assisting in such a game feels special.”

Arnautovic, who was part of the Inter squad during their treble-winning 2009–10 season, played only a minor role back then. But now, he has the chance to be a significant contributor as Inzaghi’s men chase another historic treble—Serie A, the Champions League, and the Coppa Italia.

Inzaghi praises team focus and looks ahead to Bayern

Coach Simone Inzaghi was quick to praise his team’s intensity and focus following the victory. Despite rotating his lineup with the Champions League in mind, Inter maintained their high standards domestically.

“We showed the right mentality today,” Inzaghi told reporters. “The match against Bayern will be one of the toughest, but we’re going into it with belief. We need the same aggression, pace, and tactical discipline we showed in the first leg.”

Inter lead Bayern 2-1 from the first leg in Munich. The second leg at San Siro is expected to be a thriller, with both sides aiming for a place in the semifinals.

Martinez keeps firing as Inter push for title

Lautaro Martinez continues to deliver for Inter Milan. The World Cup winner’s composed finish from Arnautovic’s assist was his 20th of the campaign, underlining his importance in the final third. Martinez has now scored in four of his last five appearances and appears to be hitting top form at the perfect time.

Martinez’s partnership with Thuram has been a revelation this season, but his chemistry with Arnautovic offered Inzaghi an alternative attacking combination that worked effectively against Cagliari.

Juventus find rhythm under Tudor

Elsewhere in Serie A, Juventus returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Lecce in Turin. The Bianconeri jumped up to third in the standings, helped by an early strike from Teun Koopmeiners and a first-half goal from young star Kenan Yildiz.

Igor Tudor, who recently replaced Thiago Motta as head coach, remains unbeaten in his first three matches in charge. Juventus now sit on 59 points, one clear of Atalanta and two ahead of Bologna, both of whom are also in action this weekend.

“Our goal is to qualify for the Champions League,” midfielder Manuel Locatelli said. “We have to give everything in every remaining game.”

Despite the win, Juventus looked lackluster at times. Lecce’s Federico Baschirotto headed in a late goal to set up a nervy finish, but the home side held on.

Venezia boost survival hopes, Monza stumble again

Venezia gave their survival hopes a major boost by edging past bottom-club Monza 1-0. The victory moves them within two points of Lecce, who are just outside the relegation zone. For Monza, the result deepens their woes, leaving them rooted to the foot of the table with time running out.

The relegation battle looks increasingly tight, with several clubs—including Verona, Udinese, and Frosinone—all still fighting to ensure safety.

Inter’s path to potential glory

Back at the top of the table, Inter Milan have now won five of their last six league matches and are in firm control of the Serie A title race. With Napoli set to play Empoli on Monday, the pressure is now on the defending champions to close the gap.

But Inter’s focus will temporarily shift to Bayern Munich. A place in the Champions League semifinals is within touching distance, and Saturday’s commanding win over Cagliari will have boosted confidence further.

If Inter can maintain this momentum, they could be on course for one of the most memorable seasons in their storied history—something Arnautovic and Inzaghi both believe is possible.

“Obviously we believe in the treble because we’re Inter,” said Arnautovic. “But there’s a long way to go.”

For now, the message is clear: Inter are peaking at the right time, and with Arnautovic stepping up when it matters most, the dream of another treble is alive.