Serie A: Bologna 1-2 Inter Milan

BOLOGNA - No messing around in Bologna. Those were the orders from José Mourinho, and the Nerazzurri obliged with a 2-1 victory that sees us move a massive twelve points clear at the top with the chasing pack still to play their Week 25 fixtures.

Esteban Cambiasso capped a period of pressure with the opening goal early after the restart but Bologna fought back and got their reward ten minutes from time when Britos snatched an equaliser. But Mario Balotelli came off the bench and restored Inter's lead within a minute with a magnificent curling free kick.

Mourninho chose to rest Dejan Stankovic and advance Sulley Muntari to the playmaker position for Satuday afternoon's clash at the Dall'Ara, with Maxwell alongside Cambiasso and Zanetti in an all-South American midfield.

But the Nerazzurri suffered a set-back in the warm-up phase when Walter Samuel pulled up with a left-calf injury. Nelson Rivas took his place in the starting lineup with Mancini the extra sub on the bench.

Bologna boss Sinisa Mihajlovic kept faith with the 4-5-1 lineup that held Napoli 1-1 last weekend, Marco Di Vaio the Rossoblu's lone striker.

Referee Nicola Ayroldi got proceedings under way after a moving minute's silence in memory of Bologna and Azzurri legend Giacomo Bulgarelli, and Inter produced a series of early chances as Antonioli made saves from Ibrahimovic and Santon.

The Bologna goalkeeper then denied Muntari, narrowing the angle to force the Ghana midfielder to shoot over after an intelligent through pass from Ibrahimovic.

Julio Cesar was a spectator for much of the first half but, as always, was prepared. The Brazilian blocked Zenoni's arrowed shot after a rare sortie by Bologna, moving quickly to thwart Di Vaio before the break.

Volpi went close to what would have been a spectacular equaliser in time added on, his curling free kick sailing narrowly wide of the back post.

Mourinho threw on Stankovic for Muntari at the start of the second period and Inter asserted their superiority. Cambiasso broke the deadlock twelve minutes in, latching on to Adriano's headed assist from Maicon's cross and hooking into the net.

Julio Cesar made last-gasp saves from Mingazzini and Marazzina as Bologna reacted strongly, but there was nothing he could do to keep out Uruguayan defender Britos' downwards header into the far corner in the 80th minute.

But the Nerazzurri weren't messing around and Mario Balotelli came off the bench to curl a left-wing free kick into the bottom right corner.

Inter survived a late surge from the Rossoblu, with Di Vaio inexplicably heading wide from close range in the last minute.

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

Scorers: Cambiasso 57, Britos 80, Balotelli 82.

Source: inter.it

Spectacular, Incredible, Fantastic of Inter Milan

MILAN - Adriano and Dejan Stankovic scored first-half goals to give Inter victory in the 270th Milan derby as José Mourinho's men defended doggedly after Pato reduced the arrears to set up a thrilling finale.

The result sees the Nerazzurri increase their lead over second-placed Juventus to nine points, and open up a massive eleven-point gap over their city rivals.

The eagerly-awaited derby sprang to life in the 18th minute when Ibrahimovic played in Cambiasso and the Argentine swung in a cross for Stankovic who hesitated before shooting, allowing Ambrosini to make a last-gasp interception.

Ronaldinho, scorer of the winner in the reverse fixture last September, showed he relishes Milan derbies, twice setting up Pato whose second effort took a deflection off Santon, forcing Julio Cesar into a difficult save.

Inter soaked up a period of Rossoneri pressure and delivered the perfect reply inside the half hour when Maicon's pinpoint delivery from the right was headed home by Adriano.

Stankovic made amends for his earlier miss just before the break to put Inter firmly in control, firing first time past Abbiati after a headed assist from Ibrahimovic.

Adriano had a chance to wrap up the points seconds after the restart but he stroked his shot wide with just Abbiati to beat.

The Rossoneri keeper then said no to Ibrahimovic with terrific one-handed save, with Adriano hooking behind his spectacular shot from the resulting corner as Inter continued to have the upper hand.

But Milan rallied and set up a dramatic finale when Pato sidefooted home Jankulovski's pull-back from Ronaldinho's pass in the 71st minute.

Adriano had a further chance to kill off the game but was denied by Abbiati after shaking off a challenge from derby veteran Maldini.

Inter endured sustained pressure as Filippo Inzaghi saw plenty of action after coming on for derby debutant David Beckham. The Italian volleyed home Pato's cross, only for the offside flag to go up, and was caught offside again minutes later when he headed over Zambrotta's delivery.

Inzaghi went closest in time added on with a low shot that Julio Cesar saved with the tip of his toe.

Inter 2-1 AC Milan

Scorers: Adriano 29, Stankovic 43, Pato 71.

source: inter.it

Squad for knockout stage of Champions League; there is no name of Quaresma and Crespo in this squad

'A' LIST
1 Francesco Toldo;
12 Julio Cesar;
22 Paolo Orlandoni;

2 Ivan Ramiro Cordoba;
4 Javier Zanetti;
6 Maxwell;
13 Maicon;
16 Nicolas Burdisso;
23 Marco Materazzi;
24 Nelson Rivas;
25 Walter Samuel;
26 Cristian Chivu;
37 Andrea Mei;
39 Davide Santon;

5 Dejan Stankovic;
7 Luis Figo;
11 Luis Jimenez;
14 Patrick Vieira;
19 Esteban Cambiasso;
20 Sulley Muntari;
33 Alessandro Amantino Mancini;
36 Francesco Bolzoni;

8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic;
9 Julio Ricardo Cruz;
10 Adriano.

'B' LIST

38 Luca Caldirola (defender);
41 Mattia Destro (striker);
42 Joel Chukwuma Obi (midfielder);
43 Luca Stocchi (goalkeeper);
44 Luca Tremolada (midfielder);
45 Mario Barwuah Balotelli (striker);
46 Rene Krhin (midfielder);
51 Vid Belec (goalkeeper).

source: inter.it

Inter Milan 1-1 Torino; Quaresma needs more training for improving his truly skill

MILAN - Nicolas Burdisso replied to Rolando Bianchi's opener as Inter held Torino 1-1 in Milan, a result that sees the Nerazzurri increase their lead at the top of the Serie A table to seven points.

In what was a dull opening half, Ibrahimovic had a shot saved by Sereni and Cruz fired narrowly over before forcing a palmed save from the Toro keeper.

Torino's best chances fell to their Swiss midfielder Blerim Dzemaili, who shot wide from 20 yards before crashing over the bar after a run into the box.

Injuries forced both coaches into changes before the break, with Colombo replacing Rivalta and Figo coming on for Stankovic.

Mourinho made his second switch at half time, bringing on Quaresma for Maxwell, who started the match in midfield.

The Portuguese winger barely had time to settle when Bianchi outjumped Cordoba in the box and headed past Julio Cesar to stun the home crowd.

Cordoba had an immediate chance to redeem himself with a bullet header from Figo's corner but Sereni pulled off a brilliant save, but there was nothing the Toro keeper could do to prevent Burdisso from nodding home Inter's equaliser in the 58th minute.

Diana went close with a first-time shot from Abate's cross and in the same minute Maicon sent his snapshot inches wide of the target.

From then on in it was all Inter as the Nerazzurri launched an all-out assault for a winner. Dzemaili made a headed clearance from the Ibrahimovic's hooked effort, with Crespo sending his follow-up shot on to the roof of the net.

Burdisso hit the post and Quaresma sidefooted over from an inviting position before the woodwork denied Ibrahimovic a goal on his one hundredth appearance for Inter in time added on.

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

source: inter.it; uefa.com