Inter Milan vs Udinese

MILAN - Wesley Sneijder opened his scoring account for Inter in dramatic fashion as the Nerazzurri saw off Udinese in Week 7 of the Serie A championship.

The match was heading for a draw after Antonio Di Natale cancelled out Dejan Stankovic's opener, but the Dutch ace popped up with the winning goal in added time to put Inter on top of the table ahead of Sunday's matches.

Mourinho made three changes from the draw with Rubin Kazan. Milito, Muntari and Sneijder returned to the starting lineup with Mancini and Balotelli dropping to the bench, while Zanetti switched to right-back in place of the suspended Maicon.

Balotelli came on sooner than he expected when Milito pulled up with an injury in the 26th minute, with Inter already a goal up thanks to Stankovic's clinical diagonal finish. The Serbian passed to Eto'o and the Cameroonian made a darting run on goal before setting up his team-mate, whose snapshot flew into the top corner via the fingers of Handanovic.

Udinese produced a quick reply and it came from the feet of Serie A top scorer Antonio Di Natale. The Italian beat the offside trap to Inler's through ball and crashed past Julio Cesar from close range to bring his tally to nine goals in seven games.

Inter bossed the Bianconeri for the remainder of the first half, but Marino's team should have gone into the break on top when Sanchez rounded Lucio and blasted over with just Julio Cesar to beat.

There were fewer chances in a slower second half, but plenty of bookings as both sides adopted a cat and mouse approach in search of a winner. Floro Flores and Di Natale had scoring opportunities early on, before Inter stepped up the pressure midway through the half with Stankovic forcing a one-handed save from Handanovic.

Udinese failed to capitalise on chances from counter-attacks in the final stages with Lukovic blasting wide from an inviting position and Julio Cesar narrowing the angle to deny Di Natale, before Sneijder brought the house down in time added on with a diagonal shot into the far corner.

Inter 2-1 Udinese (HT: 1-1)

Scorers: Stankovic 22, Di Natale 27, Sneijder 45+3.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 6 Lucio (39 Santon 88), 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 5 Stankovic, 19 Cambiasso, 11 Muntari (18 Suazo 73); 10 Sneijder; 9 Eto'o, 22 Milito (45 Balotelli 26).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 15 Krhin, 30 Mancini, 39 Santon.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Udinese: 22 Handanovic; 8 Basta (2 Zapata 70), 13 Coda, 80 Domizzi, 24 Lukovic; 11 Sanchez, 21 D'Agostino, 88 Inler, 7 Pepe (26 Pasquale 89); 83 Floro Flores (9 Corradi 75), 10 Di Natale.

Subs not used: 6 Belardi, 14 Sammarco, 19 Felipe, 84 Lodi.

Coach: Pasquale Marino.

Referee: Mauro Bergonzi (Genoa).

Booked: Sneijder 19, Floro Flores 45, Domizzi 45+1, Chivu 55, Pepe 68. Corradi 78, Coda 84.

In recent week, Inter played inconsistent as their lost their touch in a game. Beside that, losing Sneijder to injury is a huge blow before and for this match, the Dutch internatinal come back to the pitch.

Every year, Udinese is always hard to beat in the home or away. They have some good player which perform in the Europe stage already. This is a difficult match.

When Sneijder come back to the pitch, Inter looks like reborn. They controlled the game, the possesion, shoot in and out goal. And Sneijder's goal in injury times give three precious points to Inter.

click here to see the video

Inter Milan vs Napoli

MILAN - Italian champions Inter move top of the Serie A table with a first-half display of attacking football against Napoli.

Samuel Eto'o and Diego Milito had the Azzurri in all sorts of trouble with goals in the opening five minutes.

Lucio opened his scoring account for the Nerazzurri to seemingly kill off the encounter shortly after the half-hour, but Ezequiel Lavezzi pulled one back ten minutes the break.

Inter, whose second half form won them the games against Parma and Cagliari, handed out a lesson in sprint starts to the Neapolitans.

Eto'o gave Inter the best possible start, prodding home from close range in the third minute after De Sanctis fumbled Samuel's header from a corner.

Just two minutes after the Cameroonian's fourth competitive goal in black and blue, Milito added his fifth. Maicon powered past four opponents and played an inch-perfect pass through to the Argentine who coolly sidefooted home.

Brazil captain Lucio got in on the goal fest in the 32nd minute, rising in the area to nod home Sneijder's perfect corner kick.

It looked like game over but Napoli regrouped and Lavezzi pulled one back with his first goal since March. Hamsik swung in a corner from the right, Contini drove across the area and the Argentine fantasista was on hand to lash home a lifeline.

There were fewer chances after the break as Inter defended their two-goal cushion, restricting Napoli to speculative long-range efforts and looking to sting them on the break.

Our best chance fell to Walter Samuel who brought a fine one-handed save from De Sanctis after pouncing on Cannavaro's loose clearance.

On the evidence of this performance José Mourinho, disqualified after his sending-off against Cagliari, has reason to be pleased. So do the 300 children from the 19 participating nations in the Inter Campus World Cup, who met their heroes before kick-off after a parade around the Meazza.

Inter 3-1 Napoli (HT: 3-1)

Scorers: Eto'o 3, Milito 5, Lucio 32, Lavezzi 38.
Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio (2 Cordoba 89), 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic; 10 Sneijder (11 Muntari 46); 22 Milito, 9 Eto'o (30 Mancini 90).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 14 Vieira, 39 Santon, 45 Balotelli.

Coach: Giuseppe Baresi.

Napoli: 26 De Sanctis; 13 Santacroce (6 Aronica 60), 28 Cannavaro, 96 Contini; 11 Maggio (19 Denis 68), 23 Gargano, 18 Bogliacino (5 Pazienza 85), 16 Zuniga, 17 Hamsik; 27 Quagliarella, 7 Lavezzi.
Subs not used: 1 Iezzo, 2 Grava, 9 Hoffer, 21 Cigarini. 

Coach: Roberto Donadoni.

Referee: Matteo Tefoloni (Siena).

Booked: Stankovic 55, Contini 55, Bogliacino 58, Maicon 74.

This match is expected to be a fairly good match between two great sides. Both teams are in the top table of standing and surely both will do anything to secure the win.

Come with no consistency, Napoli is expected to hold Inter. And this match is difficult to predict.

Lucky for Inter, there are some star players in Napoli which are unavailable to playin in this match.

The scoreline shows that Inter are team to beat at the moment.

click here to see the video

Cagliari vs Inter

CAGLIARI - Diego Milito celebrated his 100th match for Italian clubs with two goals in five second half minutes as Inter stunned Cagliari at the Stadio Sant'Elia.

On the back foot after Jeda's penalty in the 15th minute, the Nerazzurri were survived a series of scares before Il Principe popped up with two typical finishes.

Inter were made to suffer and sweat as the hosts battled hard for a point right until the final whistle.

Mourinho rested Samuel, Chivu and Thiago Motta for the Serie A Week 4 clash, recalling Cordoba and Santon in defence and handing Cambiasso his first start since sustaining a knee injury in mid-August.

Inter got the game under way after a minute's applause in memory of the six Italian soldiers who lost their lives in Afghanistan last week.

Dejan Stankovic was presented with the first real chance on 6 minutes, getting into a shooting position before sending his swerveshot just over.

Cagliari did better with theirs in the 16th, Jeda sending Julio Cesar the wrong way from the penalty spot after a foul in the box by Maicon on Matri.

The Rossoblu came close to adding a quick second when Matri fired his diagonal shot into the side-netting.

Inter were struggling to establish a rhythm and Agostini tested Julio Cesar with a drilled low effort before the Nerazzurri came out of their shell towards the end of the half.

Sneijder, Stankovic and Milito all tested Marchetti with shots of varying power, while Eto'o sent a curling free kick inches off target as Inter looked to have stepped up a gear at the break.

Cagliari, though, came out for the second half intent on increasing their lead and Inter survived a double scare when Dessena's low strike bounced back off the post before Canini headed wide Cossu's cross when it would have been easier to score.

But Inter, playing with Balotelli and Thiago Motta in place of Santon and Cambiasso, silenced the home fans with two quick replies.

Milito equalised in the 51st minute, sliding beyond the onrushing Marchetti after a defensive error by Conti. Il Principe put Inter in front with his second five minutes later, controlling Thiago Motta's superb lofted pass and lifting over the Cagliari keeper from a tight angle.

José Mourinho was shown a red card for protesting after an ugly foul on Mario Balotelli, while his counterpart Massimiliano Allegri tried everything he could to extend his unbeaten run against Inter and the Portuguese.

Thiago Motta, Milito and Eto'o had chances to stretch our lead before a final period in which Nenè, Cossu and Jeda were left rueing missed opportunities for the Rossoblu.

Cagliari 1-2 Inter (HT: 1-0)

Scorers: Jeda (pen) 15, Milito 51, 55.

Cagliari: 32 Marchetti; 15 Marzoratti, 13 Astori, 21 Canini, 31 Agostini; 8 Biondini (10 Lazzari 67), 5 Conti, 4 Dessena; 7 Cossu (23 Larrivey 90+2), 27 Jeda; 32 Matri (9 Nenè 76).
Subs not used: 24 Lupatelli, 16 Sivakov, 18 Parola, 20 Barone.
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 6 Lucio, 39 Santon (45 Balotelli 46); 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso (8 Thiago Motta 46; 26 Chivu 65), 5 Stankovic; 10 Sneijder; 22 Milito, 9 Eto'o.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 7 Quaresma, 14 Vieira, 25 Samuel.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio).

Booked: Cambiasso 9, Maicon 15, Astori 35, Conti 40, Eto'o 53.
Sent off: Mourinho 57.

This is a tricky match because, from the standing, Inter is in the top and Cagliari in the lowest table, but every year, playing in the Cagliari home is always difficult.

Inter is expected to show the strength and the will to win the game.

Although playing badly, Inter won the match. It's good because you have to win even when you are playing badly.

The win is counted.

click here to see the video

Inter Milan vs Parma

MILAN - Samuel Eto'o scored a second-half stunner and his strike partner Diego Milito added a cheeky goal as Inter saw off a gritty Parma at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

The Cameroonian striker's goal - straight out of the top drawer - came at just the right time, with frustration setting in after seventy goalless minutes.

Two minutes short of the ninety, Il Principe tucked home Balotelli's cross to make sure of the points.

Chivu and Stankovic returned from international duty with the flu, forcing José Mourinho to make two changes to the team that beat AC Milan 4-0 a fortnight ago. Santon slotted in at left-back while Vieira patrolled the right side of midfield with Zanetti filling the central role.

Eleven minutes into the match Inter had two quick chances to take the lead. Sneijder latched on to Eto'o's deflected cross and saw his snapshot parried by Mirante. Thiago Motta failed to find the target with his header from the resulting corner.

Parma's only meaningful chance of the opening forty-five fell to their captain Morrone, who wriggled into the box before sending a diagonal shot straight at Julio Cesar. Inter launched a fast counter-attack and Mirante kept out a fierce drive from Zanetti.

A goalless first half called for a change in formation and Mourinho threw on Balotelli in place of Thiago Motta. The nineteen-year-old Italian made an immediate impact as the Nerazzurri looked more dangerous coming forward.

Parma, though, were always a threat and Inter youth academy product Jonathan Biabiany made two teasing runs, pulling his shot wide after the second.

The breakthrough came in the 71st minute when Eto'o received from Balotelli and turned Lanzafame to create space to curl his brilliant shot beyond Mirante and into the top right corner.

Rene Krhin came on for Sneijder in the 78th minute and celebrated his competitive debut for Inter ten later when Milito controlled Balotelli's right-wing cross in the box and fired past Mirante with the outside of his right foot.

Inter 2-0 Parma (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Eto'o 71, Milito 88.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 39 Santon; 14 Vieira (11 Muntari 70), 4 Zanetti, 8 Thiago Motta (45 Balotelli 46); 10 Sneijder (15 Krhin 78); 9 Eto'o, 22 Milito.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 7 Quaresma, 18 Suazo.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Parma: 83 Mirante; 19 Zenoni, 24 Paci, 2 Panucci, 6 Lucarelli; 5 Zaccardo (23 Amoruso 76), 17 Mariga, 4 Morrone, 14 Galloppa (9 Lanzafame 55); 20 Biabiany, 43 Paloschi (86 Boijnov 80).
Subs not used: 1 Pavarini, 7 Castellini, 10 Dzemaili, 15 Dellafiore.
Coach: Francesco Guidolin.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Turin).

Booked: Vieira 9, Galloppa 14, Thiago Motta 41, Eto'o 72.

Attendance.: 51,232.

Another match that Inter need to prove the consistency of winning. It's not a really big deal as many predicted that Inter will have no difficulties to win this match.

Like Bari, Parma is a newly promoted team that has a good start with 2 wins out of 2 matches. They expect to deffend the good start so they can survive in this level.

The prediction proves right as Inter won the match convincingly.

click here to see the video

AC Milan vs Inter Milan

MILAN - Thiago Motta and Diego Milito scored in their first competitive Milan derby, Maicon added a third before the break, and Dejan Stankovic struck midway through the second half as Inter completed a memorable victory over their cross-city rivals.

The Italian champions bounced back from their 1-1 draw with Bari in style, sending AC Milan, who were reduced to ten men after the dismissal of Gattuso on 40 minutes, to their heaviest derby defeat since 1974.

José Mourinho threw new signing Wesley Sneijder straight into the fray and the Dutch midfielder fired an early warning with a trademark long-range drive, forcing a difficult one-handed save from Storari.

Inter's first-time passing was mouthwatering and the move that led to our opening goal was text book stuff. Thiago Motta received from Zanetti and continued his run into the box to curl first-time past the Milan keeper after deft touches from Eto'o and Milito.

Milito opened his scoring account for Inter with the second goal seven minutes later from the penalty spot after Gattuso carelessly brought down Eto'o in the box. The Italy midfielder's personal nightmare continued when he was sent off for a second yellow after fouling Sneijder.

Mourinho's men took full advantage and increased their lead in stoppage time at the end of the first half, Maicon outwitting Jankulovski on the right and one-twoing with Milito before rifling past Storari.

Inter continued their domination in the second half and Eto'o fired a right-foot shot just wide in the opening seconds. Sneijder came even closer with a long-range effort that dipped inches over the bar.

Thiago Motta pulled up with a high problem and on came Sulley Muntari, who assisted Stankovic for Inter's fourth midway through the half. The Serbian picked his spot and let rip and long-range swerveshot that flew into the top corner.

Stankovic was denied a second with Milito seeing his rebound saved as the Nerazzurri came forward in search of a fifth on what was a humiliating evening for Milan.

AC Milan 0-4 Inter (HT: 0-3)

Scorers: Thiago Motta 29, Milito (pen) 36, Maicon 45+1, Stankovic 67.

AC Milan: 30 Storari; 15 Zambrotta, 13 Nesta, 33 Thiago Silva, 18 Jankulovski; 8 Gattuso (10 Seedorf 46), 21 Pirlo, 16 Flamini; 80 Ronaldinho (11 Huntelaar 64); 7 Pato, 22 Borriello (23 Ambrosini 46).
Subs not used: 31 Roma, 5 Onyewu, 9 Inzaghi, 20 Abate.
Coach: Leonardo.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic, 8 Thiago Motta (11 Muntari 60); 10 Sneijder (14 Vieira 74); 22 Milito (45 Balotelli 79), 9 Eto'o.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 18 Suazo, 39 Santon.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Bologna).

Booked: Flamini 6, Samuel 34, Gattuso 35, 40, Chivu 81.
Sent off: Gattuso 40.

Attendance.: 78,467.

This is the biggest derby in Europe, or maybe the world. Both are based in the same stadium and the same city, Milano.

The football lovers, surely, will not missed this match.

Finally, Inter has brought Wesley Sneijder from Real Madrid. The international Dutch is expected to bring more creativity in the middle of the field.

He has done his job wonderfully. A good show frong Inter with a convincing scoreline.

click here to see the video

Inter Milan vs Bari

MILAN - Samuel Eto'o scored from the spot on his Serie A debut at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza as Inter's quest to win a fifth straight league title began with a 1-1 draw against newly promoted Bari.

The Cameroon striker, who netted in his competitive debut for the Nerazzurri against Lazio in the Super Cup earlier this month, tucked home his spot kick early in the second half after a foul on his strike partner Diego Milito.

But Bari, back in the top flight after an eight-year absence, equalised eighteen minutes later through Belarusian international Vitali Kutuzov.

There were few surprises in José Mourinho's starting lineup, with Eto'o and Milito making their Serie A debuts for Inter up front, Thiago Motta his in a diamond midfield with Vieira in the holding role, and Lucio his alongside Materazzi at the centre of defence.

Serie A new boys Bari, without the injured Barreto and the disqualified Meggiorini, relied on Kutuzov and Sforzini to spearhead their attack.

The new-look Inter gave an early sign of their attacking potential when Eto'o's fierce shot forced a difficult parry from Gillet after a one-two with Milito. The Argentine striker should have scored inside the half-hour when he met Vieira's inch-perfect pass over the Bari defence, but he hooked over the bar.

Two chances in thirty minutes were too few for José Mourinho. On came Mario Balotelli for Sulley Muntari and Inter switched from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 with Milito in the centre-forward role.

Inter were immediately more effective in attack, with Maicon going close from Stankovic's pull-back and Milito almost scoring when his cross from the by-line took a deflection off Bonucci.

Balotelli missed by an inch with a low free kick that Milito just failed to divert beyond Gillet, and Thiago Motta blazed a low effort narrowly wide after a pass from Eto'o.

Bari could have taken the lead in added time at the end of the first half but Kutuzov, through on goal with just Julio Cesar to beat, lost control of the ball.

Mourinho made his second substitution at the break, bringing on Quaresma for Vieira as his team went from 4-3-3 to 4-2-4.

Bari were pinned back in their own half and Balotelli drove wide after collecting a short pass from Eto'o, who was well served on the right by Thiago Motta.

The breakthrough came when Milito was fouled in the box by Cockerels defender Bonucci, with Eto'o sending Gillet the wrong way with his resulting spot kick.

The Inter number nine wasted a gilt-edged chance to increase our lead after receiving a short pass from Milito, firing wide a low shot when totally unmarked in the area.

Kutuzov made amends for his error before the break with Bari's equaliser on 74 minutes, slotting beyond Julio Cesar after collecting Langella's cross from the right.

The visitors had two late chances to snatch all three points, with Langella sending a low shot just wide before Rivas blazed over the bar when it would have been easier to pass to the unmarked Alvarez to his left.

Inter 1-1 Bari (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Eto'o (pen) 56, Kutuzov 74.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio, 23 Materazzi (2 Cordoba 61), 4 Zanetti; 11 Muntari (45 Balotelli 29), 14 Vieira (7 Quaresma 46), 8 Thiago Motta; 5 Stankovic; 22 Milito, 9 Eto'o.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 26 Chivu, 30 Mancini, 39 Santon.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Bari: 1 Gillet; 5 A.Masiello, 13 Ranocchia, 19 Bonucci, 21 Parisi; 90 Alvarez, 9 De Vezze, 14 Gazzi (27 Stellini 90+4), 30 Allegretti (23 Langella 57); 99 Sforzini (7 Rivas 60), 20 Kutuzov.
Subs not used: 25 Padelli, 4 Carobbio, 17 S.Masiello, 18 Greco.
Coach: Giampiero Ventura.

Referee: Carmine Russo (Nola).

Booked: Vieira 25, Materazzi 42, Langella 61, A.Masiello 71, Stankovic 90+1.

Attendance.: 53,369.

Before kickoff, many people believe that the reigning champion, Inter, will dominating the match and will come out with convincing scoreline especially this match is the opening match of the season.

Bari came with nothing to lose because they are just newly promoted team with no star player in the squad.

This match has proven that Inter weakness was the same as last season: lack of creativity in midfield.

That's why Jose Mourinho (head coach of Inter) strongly expecting new creative attacking midfilder which will solve the problem in the team.

For this match, all I can say is, it will more difficult when we met other stronger team if we can't solve the main problem: creativity in midfild.

click here to see the video