MATTEO DARMIAN scored the only goal as Serie A leader Inter Milan held off lowly Cagliari 1-0 to stretch its winning streak to 11 games as the side closes in on a first league title in over a decade.

Champion Juventus consolidated third place with a 3-1 win over Genoa as Napoli moved fourth and back into the Champions League spots with a 2-0 win at Sampdoria.

Moroccan Achraf Hakimi came off the bench and minutes later set up Italy defender Darmian to grab the winner in the San Siro to inflict a fourth consecutive defeat on Cagliari.

Inter moves back 11 points clear of second-placed AC Milan, which won 3-1 at Parma on Saturday, as a first title since 2010 beckons for Antonio Conte’s side with eight game left to play.

Struggling nine-time defending champion Juventus is 15 points behind Inter in third before hosting Genoa.

“On a psychological level we gave an important signal today,” said former Manchester United defender Darmian.

“It was a difficult match, they defended well and we couldn’t break through.

“Winning today was essential to keep our rivals at a distance.”

Inter had been pegged back against 18th-placed Cagliari, whose goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, replacing COVID-19 hit Alessio Cragno, kept his team in the tie.

Vicario denied Christian Eriksen in either half, while Inter loanee Radja Nainggolan also missed a chance to open for the visitors against his parent club.

Romelu Lukaku set up Alexis Sanchez who thought he had broken through after quarter of an hour but the goal was ruled offside.

Vicario kept out Darmian from an angle before the break, and pushed another Eriksen chance over the bar before the the hour mark.

Stefan de Vrij rattled the crossbar before Conte made a double substitution bringing on Hakimi for Ashley Young after 69 minutes, with Lautaro Martinez replacing Sanchez.

It paid off and minutes later Hakimi combined with Lukaku to tee up Parma loanee Darmian to push Inter closer to a 19th Serie A crown after finishing runner-up last season.

“Everyone feels they have a role to play,” said Darmian. “Conte transmits the passion and the desire to win, you can see this on the pitch.”(SD-Agencies)