Torino 1-3 Internazionale Milan

TURIN - Inter sit on top of the table after 270 minutes of Serie A football after a 3-1 victory over Torino at the Stadio Olimpico.

Brazilians Mancini and Maicon stunned the Granata with goals in the space of two first-half minutes, before Zlatan Ibrahimovic wrapped up the points just after the restart.

Torino reduced the deficit through Elvis Abbruscato with 14 minutes remaining and kept Julio Cesar busy in the final stages.

Cristian Chivu made his return to the starting lineup as Mourinho fielded a 4-3-3 with an attacking trio of Ibrahimovic, Mancini and Adriano - back in the starting XI for the first time since last October's match against Reggina.

Toro made a bright start and all their front men had chances in the early stages, with Amoruso and Rosina firing wide before Bianchi rose to head behind.

Inter broke the deadlock on 24 minutes when Adriano played in the unmarked Mancini, whose cross-shot went in off Pisano.

Maicon doubled the lead inside two minutes, finding the top-left corner with a sweetly struck right-foot shot after collecting Vieira's pass.

Ibrahimovic made it 3-0 six minutes after the break, slotting past Sereni from ten yards after taking Mancini's pass into the area.

The Nerazzurri continued to pressurise Torino with some flowing counter-attacks but De Biasi's men were given a lifeline when Abbruscato slid home from close range after meeting Saumel's left-wing cross.

Rallied by their goal, the Granata came looking for more and Bianchi forced Julio Cesar into a reflex block with a flicked header before Abbruscato headed against the bar.

source: www.inter.it.

Champions League: Panathinaikos 0-2 Inter Milan

José Mourinho marked his return to the UEFA Champions with victory as goals in each half from Mancini and Adriano earned FC Internazionale Milano the points at Panathinaikos FC in Group B.

Tireless Ibrahimović
Almost a year to the day that Mourinho, who led FC Porto to the title in 2004, parted company with Chelsea FC, the tireless Zlatan Ibrahimović teed up Mancini on 27 minutes then substitute Adriano five minutes from time to put a smile on the face of the Portuguese coach whose side kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign in commanding fashion. The closest Panathinaikos came was when Bryce Moon hit the crossbar shortly before half-time, but the resolve they showed after falling behind will at least be of some comfort to coach Henk ten Cate.

Inter warning
Ten Cate was Frank Rijkaard's assistant when FC Barcelona won the title in 2006 and was No2 to Avram Grant last season as Chelsea reached the final. Now in his first UEFA Champions League match as coach in his own right, he surprised home supporters with a much-changed lineup, starting Dimitris Salpingidis as the lone attacker in a safety-first 4-5-1 formation. After a sluggish opening Inter created the first real chance on 13 minutes when Maicon slipped Ibrahimović through on goal, only for the Swedish striker to roll an excellent chance harmlessly wide. The warning, though, had been sounded.

Mancini strikes
On 17 minutes Mario Galinović tipped Ricardo Quaresma's shot round the post, then punched away Ibrahimović's drive. Inter were beginning to find their way through with alarming regularity and a goal was not long in coming. Ibrahimović out-muscled Simão to the ball then got the better of both Giannis Goumas and Mikael Nilsson before sliding a pass into the path of Mancini who fired Inter deservedly in front on 27 minutes.

Moon shines
Panathinaikos, Greece's sole representatives in the competition this season, responded immediately with Júlio César forced to tip Moon's drive over the bar. It was a rare call to action for the Inter goalkeeper, but it signaled the start of a mini-duel between the pair. Moon's low strike was well held by the Inter goalkeeper on 38 minutes before another shot from the South African deflected off Marco Materazzi and on to the crossbar three minutes before the break. Moon's efforts offered hope to Ten Cate who had to replace the injured Giorgos Karagounis with Andreas Ivanschitz eight minutes before the break.

Adriano strikes
Ivanschitz proved the catalyst for some enterprising play from the home side in the second-half as Panathinaikos took the game to Inter. César blocked one strike from the Austrian international on 50 minutes and was then relieved to see Cleyton's shot curl just wide. He also had to be alert to keep out Ivanschitz's dipping free-kick on 68 minutes. As the game wore on, though, Inter tightened the screw, and added a second when Ibrahimović slipped Adriano through with five minutes to play. Panathinaikos next play Anorthosis Famagusta FC, who defeated their Greek rivals Olympiacos CFP in qualifying, while Inter welcome Werder Bremen to San Siro.

Taken from: www.uefa.com

Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Completes Inter Milan Switch

MILAN - Inter have completing the signing of Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Bernardo from Porto, with Gomes Passos Vitor Hugo Pelé going the other way.

The Portuguese winger, 25 years old on 26 September, passed a medical before inking a five-year contract which will run until 30 June 2013.

Accompanied by his agents to Inter's headquarters, Quaresma met Inter vice president Rinaldo Ghelfi, technical director Marco Branca, transfer consultant Gabriele Oriali and vice general manager Stefano Filucchi.

José Mourinho, back in Milan after watching Inter's Champions League opponents Panathinaikos in action at the weekend, was at Palazzo Durini to welcome the new signing.

Quaresma, who will wear the number 77 shirt, will be introduced to the press at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti in Appiano Gentile on Tuesday at 12:30 (press entry at 12:15).

Source: www.inter.it