Defending Champ Inter Wins at Cagliari to Move Level with Atalanta Atop Serie A

Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
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Defending Champ Inter Wins at Cagliari to Move Level with Atalanta Atop Serie A

Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria
Soccer Football - Serie A - Cagliari v Inter Milan - Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy - December 28, 2024 Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella in action with Cagliari's Simone Scuffet REUTERS/Alberto Lingria

Thirteen goals scored. Zero conceded. Four wins in four matches across all competitions.
Ever since a 1-0 loss at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League this month, Inter Milan has been virtually perfect, The Associated Press reported.
The latest performance for the defending Serie A champion was a 3-0 win at Cagliari on Saturday, when Nicolò Barella set up two goals.
The victory moved Inter level on points with Atalanta atop the league, ahead of Atalanta playing Lazio later and attempting to extend its winning streak to 12 matches.
Inter also has a match in hand.
Inter will face Atalanta in its next match on Thursday, in the semifinals of the Italian Super Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Juventus plays AC Milan in the other semifinal.
Alessandro Bastoni put Inter ahead with a looping header following a cross from Barella after the break.
Lautaro Martinez scored his first Serie A goal in nearly two months by volleying in another cross from Barella.
Then Hakan Calhanoglu converted a penalty.
Earlier, Patrick Vieira’s Genoa won at Empoli 2-1 with goals from Milan Badelj and Caleb Ekuban; and Parma beat last-placed Monza 2-1 with a header from Lautaro Rodrigo Valenti eight minutes into stoppage time to spoil the debut of new Monza coach Salvatore Bocchetti.



Dakar Rally 2025: Stage 3 Begins in Bisha, Saudi Arabia

US driver Mitch Guthrie Jr steers his car assisted by co-driver Kellon Walch during stage 2B of the 47th Dakar Rally between Bisha and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia, on January 6, 2025. (AFP)
US driver Mitch Guthrie Jr steers his car assisted by co-driver Kellon Walch during stage 2B of the 47th Dakar Rally between Bisha and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia, on January 6, 2025. (AFP)
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Dakar Rally 2025: Stage 3 Begins in Bisha, Saudi Arabia

US driver Mitch Guthrie Jr steers his car assisted by co-driver Kellon Walch during stage 2B of the 47th Dakar Rally between Bisha and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia, on January 6, 2025. (AFP)
US driver Mitch Guthrie Jr steers his car assisted by co-driver Kellon Walch during stage 2B of the 47th Dakar Rally between Bisha and Bisha, in Saudi Arabia, on January 6, 2025. (AFP)

The third stage of the Dakar Rally 2025, which is being held in Saudi Arabia for the sixth consecutive year, started Tuesday and will continue until January 17. Competitors began the stage in Bisha Governorate and will finish in Al Hanakiyah, covering a total distance of 894 km, including a timed special stage of 327 km, the Saudi Press Agency said on Wednesday.
The fourth stage of the event will start today from Al Hanakiyah and conclude in AlUla Governorate, covering a total distance of 588 km, including a timed special stage of 415 km.
Drivers will face significant challenges in this stage as they will not be able to rely on mechanical support teams.