Inter Milan vs Cagliari Preview: Predictions, Team Updates, Lineups

Mo. Basuony

Published: April 17, 2026 2:21 PM ET

Inter Milan vs Cagliari Preview: Predictions, Team Updates, Lineups

Inter Milan head to San Siro aiming to stretch their lead at the top of Serie A. They host Cagliari on Friday evening in a fixture with contrasting stakes.

Recent form and context

Inter arrive off back-to-back high-scoring wins. They beat Roma 5-2 and recovered to claim a 4-3 victory over Como. Those results moved Inter nine points clear with six rounds left.

Napoli and AC Milan dropped points at the same time. Inter can increase their advantage to double digits before rivals play again.

Why this matters

Cristian Chivu could complete a strong first season. Inter also have a Coppa Italia semi-final against Como next week in Milan. A league victory over Cagliari would be another step toward a possible domestic double.

Head-to-head and statistics

Inter have dominated recent meetings with Cagliari. They are unbeaten in 12 fixtures between the clubs and have won seven of the last eight.

Inter have scored 75 Serie A goals this season. That tally is at least 19 more than any other side. At San Siro they are unbeaten in nine league matches.

Cagliari have struggled at San Siro historically. They have failed to keep a clean sheet there on many occasions and concede at around 2.2 goals per game at the venue.

Opposition form

Cagliari endured an eight-match winless run, picking up only two points.
They ended that streak with a 1-0 win over Cremonese last week.
Sebastiano Esposito scored the decisive goal for Cagliari in that match.
The victory moved Cagliari six points clear of the relegation zone.
The visitors have suffered three defeats in their last four away games.
Cagliari have not recorded a clean sheet in nine matches.

Form guide

Inter Milan (Serie A): W L D D W W
Inter Milan (all competitions): D L D D W W
Cagliari (Serie A): D L L L L W

Team news and absences

Inter will again be without captain Lautaro Martínez due to a thigh strain. He is set to miss consecutive matches.

Marcus Thuram has rediscovered form. He scored a brace against Como and has ten Serie A goals this season.

Centre-back fitness is a minor concern for Chivu. Yann Bisseck and Alessandro Bastoni are doubts. Petar Sucic is suspended.

Cagliari squad update

Long-term absentees Mattia Felici and Riyad Idrissi remain out. Leonardo Pavoletti could return to the bench.

Luca Mazzitelli faces a thigh problem after being substituted against Cremonese. Sebastiano Esposito has four goal involvements in his last five games.

Notable personal subplot

Esposito will face his parent club. He is set to line up alongside his younger brother Pio, who scored for Inter in the reverse fixture.

Likely lineups

These are the possible starting XIs based on current information.

Inter Milan: Sommer; Akanji, De Vrij, Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Zielinski, Dimarco; Thuram, P. Esposito.
Cagliari: Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Rodriguez; Palestra, Folorunsho, Gaetano, Deiola, Obert; S. Esposito, Borrelli.