Inter were looking to stretch their lead over rivals Milan to six points as they hosted Genoa for Serie A’s week 27 posticipo.

During a rather eventless opening period, the visitors seemed to have the measure of the Nerazzurri as they attacked with a regular frequency. Jose Mourinho’s men appeared to lack ideas as they failed to make inroads against a well set up Grifoni backline.

After the break the Italian champions tried to find the solutions that would open the game in their favour, but once again the Rossoblu’s organisation frustrated the home side in the final third.

The game started brightly with Inter immediately imposing pressure on the Genoa box with Mario Balotelli making good inroads down the right side.

The visitors appeared to be well set up across the middle and had a golden chance to take the lead on seven minutes when a loose ball fell to Domenico. Despite lining up well to shoot, the full-back seemed to rush his effort and the chance went begging as it fizzed wide of the goal.

On ten minutes the Nerazzurri began to delight the San Siro crowd when Goran Pandev exchanged a number of delicate passes with Balotelli on the borders of the Rossoblu box. Although the forwards were unable to work out an opening, it still provided a wonderful spectacle as they tormented the Grifoni defence inside a small slice of the field.

Julio Cesar was called into action shortly after when Giandomenico Mesto unleashed a cracker from well outside the box. Fortunately for the Inter glovesman, the midfielder’s shot was dipping and the Brazilian didn’t hesitate in punching clear the danger.

The game was moving at a lighting pace as both sides proposed an attacking game plan. Despite Inter’s intense pressure in the middle of the park, Genoa continued to push forward and utilised the flanks as their main channel forward.

As the Nerazzurri began to make heavy work threatening Amelia, Dejan Stankovic took matters into his own hands on the stroke of half time with a venomous drive from distance. The Italian proved to be on alert however and did well to take the shot into his grasp without leaving any scraps for a looming Diego Milito.


After the break the visitors again came out fighting and they looked determined to make their efforts pay as they pushed men in and around the box.
It was Inter however who created the first goal scoring chance when Milito was threaded through into the six yard box. ‘El Principe’ looked destined to score just yards from goal, but the Argentine incredibly sprayed wide at the near post after taking a slight nudge in the back from Moretti.

As Genoa continued to look comfortable in all areas of the field, coach Mourinho wasted no further time by taking off the rather inactive Pandev and introducing Samuel Eto’o shortly before the hour mark.

The change seemed to have a positive effect on the Beneamata as the finally pushed forward with intent. Balotelli attempted a suspect shot from range on 65 minutes, but as he lost his footing on the moment of contact, the ball fell easily for Amelia who smothered without difficulty.

On 70 minutes Wesley Sneijder had a chance to threaten when Inter were awarded a free kick inside the Genoa third. The Dutchman didn’t think twice as he went direct, but the effort finished wide to the dismay of the San Siro crowd.

With 15 minutes left on the clock, Douglas Maicon went close with Inter’s best chance of the game when he finished of a quick break forward firing a low drive just wide of the post. Amelia appeared well beaten between the sticks, and the Brazilian couldn’t hold back his frustration as he let out a wild cry for failing to have hit the target.

Despite some half chances in the final minutes, Inter failed to carve out any clear cut chances to snatch a winner at the death. Mourinho’s men failed to capitalise on Milan’s stalemate on Saturday evening, and the race for the Scudetto remains wide open.