Marko Arnautovic helped move Inter Milan six points clear at the top of Serie A with a goal and assist in Saturday's 3-1 win over Cagliari, ahead of their Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich.
Playing in place of Marcus Thuram with coach Simone Inzaghi looking ahead to Wednesday's quarterfinal second leg with Bayern, Arnautovic lashed Inter ahead in the 13th minute.
And the Austria international laid on a perfect sweeping pass 13 minutes later for Lautaro Martinez, who dinked home his 20th goal of the season in all competitions.
Yann Bisseck's thumping header in the 55th minute made sure Inter would collect all three points at the San Siro, after Roberto Piccoli halved the deficit for 15th-placed Cagliari shortly after halftime.
Arnautovic has played a bit-part role at Inter but has had an impact in recent weeks with crucial goals, Saturday's being his fifth in his last 10 club appearances.
Inter now wait for the result of closest challengers Napoli's home fixture with Empoli on Monday, by which time attentions will be squarely on Bayern.
Inzaghi's team lead Bayern 2-1 after Tuesday's win in the first leg in Germany, and are gunning for a repeat of the Serie A, Champions League and Italian Cup treble they conquered under Jose Mourinho 15 years ago.
Earlier Venezia boosted their survival hopes by beating rock-bottom Monza 1-0 and moving to within two points of Lecce who sit just outside the relegation zone and are at Juventus later on Saturday.
Juve will move back into the top four with a win in Turin, with third-placed Atalanta host Bologna – in fourth – on Sunday.