Campioni 17

Inter have gotten the 17th scudetto after Milan was defeated by Udinese. The celebration was held at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium after Inter beat Siena 3-0

Chievo Verona 2-2 Inter Milan; closer to scudetto

VERONA - Michele Marcolini and Luciano cancelled out goals from Hernan Crespo and Mario Balotelli as Chievo held Inter at the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.

The 2-2 draw leaves Inter eight points clear at the top of the table ahead of tonight's late game at the Giuseppe Meazza between second- and third-placed teams AC Milan and Juventus.

Balotelli and Stankovic returned to José Mourinho's starting lineup after missing last weekend's win over Lazio through suspension, while the disqualified Ibrahimovic was replaced up front by Crespo.

The move paid dividends as early as the third minute when El Valdanito slotted home a loose ball after Sorrentino failed to hold Cambiasso's shot.

Luis Figo went close to a quick second when his shot took a deflection off Frey and came back off the post.

A spirited Chievo side fought back strong and got their reward before the half-hour mark, Marcolini finding the target with an unstoppable 25-yard drive.

As the pace intensified, Inter captain Zanetti had a penalty claim turned down before his Flying Donkeys counterpart Pellissier threatened to score a second with a flicked header from Marcolini's inswinging cross.

Inter regrouped well after a period of Gialloblu pressure and ended the half on top with Balotelli forcing a punched block from Sorrentino with a cross-shot from the left.

SuperMario continued where he left off as the Nerazzurri carried their attacking momentum into the second half. After having two quick shots blocked by Chievo defender Frey, Balotelli fired Inter in front with a cracking goal, volleying in off the post after pouncing on a loose ball in the box.

The lead was short-lived as ex-Inter winger Luciano stunned the visiting fans with seventeen minutes remaining. Unmarked on the right side of the Inter box, the Brazilian arrowed Mantovani's left-wing cross beyond Julio Cesar to set up a tense finale, the best chance of which fell to Javier Zanetti who tested Sorrentino with a low shot after powering past two opponents.

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

Scorers: Crespo 3, Marcolini 27, Balotelli 65, Luciano 73.

Chievo: 28 Sorrentino; 21 Frey, 2 Morero, 33 Yepes, 4 Mantovani (83 Sardo 76); 10 Luciano, 16 Rigoni, 7 Marcolini; 31 Pellissier, 9 Bentivoglio (79 Esposito 73), 23 Bogdani (6 Malagò 82).
Subs not used: 18 Squizzi, 5 Mandelli, 20 Kerlon, 77 Italiano.
Coach: Domenico Di Carlo.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 5 Stankovic (11 Jimenez 77), 19 Cambiasso, 20 Muntari; 7 Figo, 18 Crespo (9 Cruz 57), 45 Balotelli (16 Burdisso 67).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 14 Vieira, 21 Obinna, 26 Chivu.
Coach: José Mourinho.

taken from: inter.it

Inter Milan 2-0 Lazio ; one goal and one assist from Ibra

MILAN - Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one and set up the other as Inter produced a commanding second-half display to see off Lazio at the Meazza.

The victory sees José Mourinho's Serie A leaders open up a double-figure ahead of Sunday's fixtures, which see second-placed AC Milan away to Catania and Juventus at home to Lecce.

Mourinho rang in the changes after last weekend's defeat to Napoli. With Stankovic and Balotelli out suspended, the Portuguese opted for 4-3-3 with Mancini and Figo wide on the wings in support of Ibrahimovic. Santon returned in his right-back slot while Muntari shrugged off a muscular problem in time to start alongside Zanetti and Cambiasso in midfield.

Lazio were without a host of regulars, with Pandev, Dabo, Diakite, Mauri, Cribari and Simone Inzaghi not making the trip to Milan. Delio Rossi started with his usual 4-4-2, with Zarate and Rocchi up front.

After a weak shot from Rocchi and a decent free kick from Kolarov, it was Argentine fantasista Zarate who posed the main threat in the first half with some trademark mazy runs, one costing Samuel a yellow card and another forcing a tipped save from Julio Cesar.

Inter, though, had the better chances of the opening forty-five and Mancini fired wide from an inviting postion as early as the third minute. Ibrahimovic headed narrowly wide a cross from an in-form Figo before the half-hour, with Muntari getting in behind the Lazio defence before sending wide his flicked header from Ibrahimovic's centre.

With Inter struggling to gain the upper hand, Mourinho brought on two pairs of fresh legs eleven minutes after the restart, replacing Mancini with Crespo and Santon with Vieira.

Two minutes later Ibrahimovic broke the deadlock, powering into the box and sidestepping Rozenhal before sending an unstoppable shot past Muslera.

Muntari celebrated his return with Inter's second goal when he raced on to Ibrahimovic's superb through pass and fired beyond a hapless Muslera.

Chivu miskicked in front of goal as Ibrahimovic thought he had laid on a third goal, and the Swede severely tested Muslera with a fierce drive as Inter could easily have racked up a four-goal advantage.

To their credit, Lazio went down fighting as Rossi's men attacked the left wing in a final period marred by a spate of bookings, one of which will cost Ibrahimovic his presence against Chievo next weekend.

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

Scorers: Ibrahimovic 58, Muntari 70.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 39 Santon (14 Vieira 56), 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Muntari (16 Burdisso 75); 7 Figo, 8 Ibrahimovic, 33 Mancini (18 Crespo 56).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 9 Cruz, 11 Jimenez, 23 Materazzi.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Lazio: 86 Muslera; 32 Radu (2 Lichtsteiner 72), 13 Siviglia, 22 Rozenhal, 3 Kolarov; 5 Brocchi, 24 Ledesma, 8 Matuzalem, 81 Del Nero (17 Foggia 63); 18 Rocchi, 10 Zarate (20 Kozak 85).
Subs not used: 1 Carrizo, 23 Meghni, 29 De Silvestri, 68 Manfredini.
Coach: Delio Rossi.

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Terni).