Serie A official line-ups: Inter vs. Cagliari | OneFootball

Inter aim to consolidate their Serie A leadership against a Cagliari side hoping to avoid relegation, as it’s a battle of the Esposito brothers at San Siro.

It kicks off at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at 19.45 UK time (18.45 CEST).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from this game and Sassuolo vs. Como on the Liveblog.

These fixtures are being played today because Inter and Como will then face off in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final on Tuesday.

The Nerazzurri are fresh from a thrilling 4-3 victory over Como that sent them nine points clear at the top of the Serie A table, as rivals Napoli and Milan stumbled.

Now they face a very different challenge from a Cagliari side that is hovering just above the relegation zone.

COMO, ITALY – APRIL 12: Marcus Thuram of FC Internazionale celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Serie A match between Como 1907 and FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium on April 12, 2026 in Como, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Cristian Chivu has limited choices, because Alessandro Bastoni joined Lautaro Martinez and Yann Bisseck on the injury list, while Petar Sucic is suspended.

Some squad rotation is to be expected ahead of that Coppa Italia clash, but Marcus Thuram is partnered by Francesco Pio Esposito rather than Ange-Yoan Bonny.

It is a very special occasion, because Cagliari are starting Sebastiano Esposito, the older sibling in a football family with three brothers who all play professionally.

Stefan de Vrij and Carlos Augusto pad out the defence, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and goalkeeper Josep Martinez stepping in.

GENOA, ITALY – JANUARY 12: Sebastiano Esposito of Cagliari looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Cagliari Calcio at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on January 12, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Cagliari had been in a total crisis that saw them slide down the table back into the danger zone after four consecutive defeats, but the 1-0 win against Cremonese gave them a six-point buffer zone.

It’s not enough to feel comfortable, though, so they’ll come out fighting for every precious point at San Siro.

CAGLIARI, ITALY – JANUARY 31: Semih Kilicsoy of Cagliari scores his team’s second goal (2-0) during the Serie A match between Cagliari Calcio and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Sant’Elia on January 31, 2026 in Cagliari, Italy. (Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Leonardo Pavoletti has a knee issue and Luca Mazzitelli suffered a calf strain, while Riyad Idrissi and Mattia Felici are long-term absentees with torn ACLs.

Turkish talent Semih Kilicsoy therefore supports Sebastiano Esposito, while veteran Yerry Mina hopes to harass opponents.

Marco Palestra has been linked with a potential move to Inter, so will be eager to impress at right wing-back.

Inter: Martinez; Akanji, De Vrij, Carlos Augusto; Dumfries, Barella, Calhanoglu, Mkhitaryan, Dimarco; Thuram, Pio Esposito

Cagliari: Caprile; Ze Pedro, Mina, Obert; Palestra, Adopo, Gaetano, Sulemana, J Rodriguez; Borrelli, S Esposito