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Played
February 12, 2012 2:00 PM GMT
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee: C. Russo
Attendance: 21703
February 12, 2012 2:00 PM GMT
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza — Milano
Referee: C. Russo
Attendance: 21703
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| Inter | 1.26 | 13.00 | 1.26 | 13.00 | 1.25 | 1.22 | 30.00 | 1.26 | 1.25 |
| Draw | 5.60 | 3.20 | 5.25 | 3.40 | 5.50 | 6.00 | 4.00 | 6.10 | 5.25 |
| Novara | 12.50 | 1.36 | 11.50 | 1.44 | 10.00 | 12.00 | 1.20 | 14.00 | 12.00 |
Just about the most brilliant defensive display I've seen in a while has given Novara a 1-0 win here at the San Siro. And bottom of the table Novara have done the double of Inter this season. I've been Alex Mott, thanks for joining me.
90′ +4
And that's it! Full time here. And it finishes Inter Milan 0-1 Novara. Unbelievable.
90′ +3
MY WORD. WHAT. A. SAVE. A cross from Zanetti drops at the feet of Pazzini, and on the turn, the Italian intrnational shoots from six yards out, and somehow, Ujkani saves.
90′ +2
Inter are just camped outside the Novara area here. And this time it's Cambiasso with the shot. But once again, it goes wide of the post.
90′
Three minutes of added time here.
88′
OHHH. Unbelievably close for Inter. Sneijder comes all the way from the left-flank to the centre of the box, and smashes a shot towards goal and onto the underside of the crossbar. He literally couldn't get any closer.
87′
A cross from Forlan is aimed towards the near post and Cambiasso, but the Argentine isn't quite tall enough, and Ujkani catches the ball.
85′
Inter are just bombarding Ujkani's goal now. This time, Sneijder has a shot. And again, it goes wide of the post.
83′
This is going to be tough now for Novara with just ten men. And to illustrate that point, Stankovic has an unobstructed shot on goal from the edge of the area, but it goes just over the bar.
81′
The free kick is taken by Sneijder, and it's on target. But Ujkani gets down well to his left to make a smart save.
80′
Yellow/Red Ivan Radovanovic
A free kick to Inter Milan is given on the edge of the area after a foul by Radovanovic. And it's his second yellow!
A free kick to Inter Milan is given on the edge of the area after a foul by Radovanovic. And it's his second yellow!
79′
Yellow Card Michel Morganella
77′
Sneijder played a cross-field ball to Zanetti, but Garcia was there to intercept and maraude upfield with the ball. To illustrate how defensive Novara are though, he looked up, and couldn't see another player infront of him, on the halfway line.
75′
Superb stuff from Novara there. This time, in the attacking third. A cross/shot from Pesce is awkward for Cesar, but the Brazilian just gets a fist to it, and manages to clear the ball away.
73′
It's not pretty, but Novara are doing an absolutely brilliant job shutting Inter out here. Sneijder there, tried to shoot, but four or five Novara players were on him in a flash.
71′
Nagatomo comes on, and with about his fifth touch, puts in a brilliant ball towards the penalty spot. Ujkani reads it though, and collects with relative ease.
70′
Substitution 
Cristian Chivu 
Yuto Nagatomo
Cristian Chivu Yuto Nagatomo
69′
Sneijder twists and turns through a crowd of Novara defenders, and instead of squaring the ball across the box, he tries to shoot, unbalanced at goal. Needless to say, it goes about a mile wide.
67′
Unbelievable decision from the referee there. Rigoni stole the ball from the feet of Stankovic and released Caracciolo who was through, unchallenged on goal. The referee though, blows up for a foul by Rigoni. A truly baffling decision.
65′
Substitution 
Giuseppe Gemiti 
Massimo Paci
Giuseppe Gemiti Massimo Paci
65′
That passage of play just completely exemplified today's game. Sneijder was given loads of space just otuside the area, but his cross towards the box was seized on by about five Novara players.
63′
Inter are now playing with Sneijder, Pazzini, Milito and Forlan. Too many cooks?
62′
Substitution Andrea Poli Diego Forlan Corazo
Andrea Poli Diego Forlan Corazo
61′
Cambiasso for Inter now in the centre circle. He plays it wide on the left to Stankovic, who crosses towards the head of Pazzini. The ball is overhit, and goes straight over the head of the former Sampdoria man.
59′
I can't tell you how much of a shock that is. It's been all Inter from virtually minute one.
57′
And straight up the other end, Stankovic shoots low from 25yds, but his shot goes just wide of Ujkani's right-hand post.
56′
Assist Jeda
56′
Goal Andrea Caracciolo
OH MY WORD. GOOOOAAALLL NOVARA. And what a goal it is. On the counter, Caracciolo received the ball on the right-hand side of the area. He cut in, shot with his left foot, and wathced as the ball curled into the bottom left-hand corner. 1-0 Novara.
OH MY WORD. GOOOOAAALLL NOVARA. And what a goal it is. On the counter, Caracciolo received the ball on the right-hand side of the area. He cut in, shot with his left foot, and wathced as the ball curled into the bottom left-hand corner. 1-0 Novara.
54′
It is all Inter at the moment, but the Nerazzurri just can't get past the Novara defence. That time, Sneijder tried to shoot from the edge of the area, but about six bodies swarmed around him before he could get a clear strike on goal.
52′
That, is the best chance of the game so far. Milito, cutting in from the left, strikes at goal from 12 yds out. The shot though, is straight at Ujkani. The Argentine should have done a lot better there.
51′
The first corner of the second half goes to Inter. And like all the corner's in the first period, it's not particularly good, and Novara head clear.
50′
Morganella, who might have the worst haircut in Serie A, comes straight through the back of Sneijder in the centre circle. A free kick is given, but no yellow card.
49′
Chivu, who, in much the same way as the first half, is given far too much room down the left, puts in a cross. The ball though, is a poor one, and it goes straight out for a goal kick.
47′
Within a minutes, Inter are peppering the Novara goal with shots. Snijder, this time, has a crack at goal from the edge of the area, but is' blocked by Garcia.
46′
Substitution Filippo Porcari Simone Pesce
Filippo Porcari Simone Pesce
46′
Substitution Ricardo Gabriel Álvarez Giampaolo Pazzini
Ricardo Gabriel Álvarez Giampaolo Pazzini
46′
And we're back. Novara, naturally, will get us underway, kicking from left-to-right.
And that's it, half time here at the San Siro, and it's Inter Milan 0-0 Novara.
45′
Oh, it's all kicking off here. An utterly reckless foul by Centurioni on Stankovic has caused a full-scale brawl. The result though, is a free kick for Inter just outside the area. Sneijder takes it, shoots, but it goes straight into the wall.
44′
Yellow Card Ivan Radovanovic
42′
A through ball from Chivu misses Sneijder and goes straight into Milito's path. The former Genoa man is through in goal, but the assistant on the far side flags for offside.
39′
Inter are going through a prolonged period of keep-ball now. And as I say that, Sneijder gives the ball away just outside the area.
36′
Alvarez does brilliantly well down the right to get past Gemiti. He runs with the ball towards the box, and lays it square to Poli. The young Italian goes to shoot, but he's blocked by Garcia. There are shouts for a pentalty, but nothing's given, and Novara come away with the ball.
34′
Porcari with a foul on Sneijder just outside the area. The free kick is taken by the Dutchman, but his shot hits the top of the wall.
32′
Oh dear. Cambiasso crosses the ball from the left into the box. It goes to Milito, who's route to goal is blocked, so he passes it back to the edge of the area, and to Stankovic who is waiting. The Serb goes to shoot, but gets his feet in a complete tangle, and Novara come away with the ball.
30′
Half an hour gone here in Milan, and still no goals. Stankovic tries to make amends for that with a speculative shot from 30yds, but it goes over the bar.
28′
Yellow Card Filippo Porcari
28′
It's a free kick to Novara in a dangerous position on the left. Instead of whipping the ball in though, they play it square to Jeda who completely cocks it up, and Inter steal the ball and go on the counter. Before Poli can run upfield, there's foul on the youngster by Porcari and a free kick is given.
26′
Gemiti now for Novara, whips in a brilliant ball from the left to the feet of Caracciolo. The forward turns Lucio inside the area, but goes down under a challenge from the Brazilian. The referee waves play on though, and Inter breath again.
25′
OHHH. So close for Inter. Sneijder, on the left-hand side of the area, smashes a ball low across goal. The shot/cross is too heavy for Milito to get on the end of, and goes just inches past the far post. Unlucky.
24′
The corner's useless, and Inter clear away the danger.
23′
Jeda does brilliantly well to get past Zanetti on the left-hand byline. The Brazilian then cuts it back to the edge of the area and Rigoni, who fires a first time shot that's blocked by Lucio for a corner.
21′
It's Stankovic and Jeda in the wars now. The Serb and the Brazilian clash in the centre circle, and both go down. They look ok though, and play continues.
20′
Chivu is very lucky to still be on the field there. A two-footed challenge that on review looks pretty bad, goes unpunished by the referee.
18′
The corner's rubbish, and Novara clear.
18′
Stankovic makes a piercing run through the middle of the Novara midfield, and plays the ball through to Milito who's running towards the right-hand side of the area. The Argentine looks up, plays a first time ball back across the box to the on-running Alvarez, but the youngster can't quite get there, and Centurioni puts it out for a corner.
16′
COORR. A great, early ball from Gemiti is almost met inside the area by Caracciolo, but he can't get stretch is left leg long enough to connect.
14′
Substitution Pablo Hernan Dellafiore Michel Morganella
Pablo Hernan Dellafiore Michel Morganella
14′
A long, hopeful ball from Rigoni ends up in the path of Caracciolo who takes a touch, tries to turn Lucio, but the big Brazilian times his tackle perfectly and comes away with the ball.
12′
Stankovic, who's returned to the side today, plays a one-two with Alvarez inside the area. The return pass though, is just overhit, and the ball goes out for a goal kick.
11′
Chivu has been involved in everything Inter have done well so far. This time, Sneijder lays the ball back to the Romanian, and he smashes it first time at goal, only to see his shot go just wide of Ujkani's right-hand post.
9′
OHHH. A great move their from Inter, and a great effort from Sneijder. Poli gives it to Chivu in the inside left position, he passes it into the feet of Alvarez, who flicks it back to the on-running Sneijder. The Dutchman, from 25yds, smashes it first time, and Ujkani dives to his left and makes a smart save.
7′
The first shot of the game, and it's Sneijder with the effort from distance. Poli plays the ball into Sneijder about 30yds from goal, and with his second touch, blasts it towards the net. The shot is a tad wayward though, and goes over the bar.
6′
Chivu makes a fantastic run down the left, taking the ball past Porcari and Lisuzzo, and manages to put in a good cross towards the penalty spot. Ujkani though, comes and collects well, and the chance is gone.
5′
It's Alvarez, who's been so impressive in his first season in Serie A, with the ball now. He accelerates past Lisuzzo on the left-flank and puts in a decent ball towards the far post. Milito though, doesn't make the right run, and the ball goes all the way out the other side for a throw in.
3′
It's Novara's turn now to try and pass their way up towards goal, but Rigoni's pass just past the centre circle is cut out by Poli and Inter come away.
2′
Inter keep the ball from kick off, going across the back four from Zanetti to Chivu, into the anchor of Cambiasso, and up towards the lone front-man of Milito. The pass to the Argentinian though, is a poor one, and the ball goes all the way through to Ujkani in the Novara goal.
1′
Inter Milan will get us underway, kicking from left-to-right.
Here we go then. The teams are entering the pitch, with kick off literally moments away.
Ten minutes until kick off here in Milan, and the atmosphere is already bubbling under nicely.
As always, if you have any comments/predictions, or want to ask me about Terry Venables' Christmas Tree, please do @alexjmott via Twitter.
Inter Milan sticking with Cordoba after his shocker against Roma? Very brave. And Inter have gone with a Terry Venables Christmas Tree (I appreciate some may not get that reference). I'm sensing goals.
And Novara: (3-5-2) Ujkani; Lisuzzo, Centurioni, Garcia; Dellafiore, Porcari, Radovanovic, Rigoni, Gemiti; Jeda, Caracciolo.
I've just been handed the team-sheets, and they are as follows: Inter: (4-3-2-1) Cesar; Zanetti, Lucio, Cordoba, Chivu; Poli, Stankovic, Cambiasso; Alvarez, Sneijder; Milito.
Having said that though, the last time these two met back in September, the Biancoazzurri won 3-1, and put the final incredibly rusty nail in Gasperini's incredibly short-lived coffin.
The smart money today is on an Inter win. The Nerazzurri haven't lost in five at home. Novara have failed to win on their travels this season. In fact, Emiliano Mondonico's men have only kept one clean sheet all season. And with Diego Milito playing like it's 2010 all over again, there's really only one way this can go today.
Afternoon all, and welcome to Goal.com's LIVE, play-by-play coverage, of Inter Milan vs Novara all the way from the San Siro. I'm Alex Mott, and I'll be your commentator for this Serie A clash.
Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Striker AC Milan |
28 | 10 |
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Diego Alberto Milito
Striker Inter |
24 | 8 |
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Antonio Di Natale
Striker Udinese |
23 | 4 |
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Edinson Cavani
Striker Napoli |
23 | 3 |
|
R. Palacio
Striker Genoa |
19 | 3 |
