Inter Milan have lost further ground in their bid to earn a place in next season's Champions League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Cagliari at the San Siro.

The home side failed to create a chance on goal until midway through the first half when Walter Samuel headed Fredy Guarin's cross just wide at the back post.

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They came close again minutes later as Jonathan's ball into the box was headed on by Zdravko Kuzmanovic and was inches away from finding Rodrigo Palacio.

Cagliari wasted a great chance to score 10 minutes before the break when Matias Vecino cut in from the right and found himself through on goal, but he fired a strike high over the bar.

In the 40th minute the visitors took a shock lead through Mauricio Pinilla, who scored from the penalty spot after Juan Jesus had been penalised for a handball inside the box.

Diego Milito almost brought the hosts level in the final minute of the first half, but his powerful drive was well saved by Vlada Avramov.

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Inter made a change at half time with Mauro Icardi coming on for Milito, and the striker almost made an immediate impact when he controlled a long-ball in the box, before lashing a fierce strike over the bar.

The substitute made an even bigger impact in the 51st minute, as he headed Yuto Nagatomo's cross from the left back into the middle for the arriving Rolando to fire in a low strike, which squeezed under the body of Avramov.

Moments later Guarin had a chance to put his side ahead after cutting inside from the right and bending a shot wide of the post.

They came even closer when Palacio latched onto a chipped ball over the top by Guarin and saw his close-range effort saved by the feet of Avramov.

In the final minute of the match, Icardi beat the keeper to Nagatomo's cross and headed against the bar before Guarin's long-range free kick was turned round the post, as Cagliari held on to earn a vital point in their battle against relegation.