Palermo 1-1 Inter: Mourinho's Side Held At Renzo Barbera

Palermo 1-1 Inter - Lineups/Statistics
Serie A - Fixtures/Results

Palermo held Inter to a draw, which means neither side dramatically improved their Serie A league positions.

The game was hugely important for both sides. Inter needed a win to increase the gap between themselves and local rivals, AC Milan. Palermo are still hot on the heels of Roma in third place.

The first half was a fairly even affair. Both sides created chances and score one to get on the scoreboard. Inter piled on the pressure but the sides went into the break level. The second half produced blows and chances for both sides but neither was able to break through.

Palermo started quickly and soon had the ball inside the Inter box. Pastore sent in a deep and looping cross, which was met by Julio Cesar running out of his goal to see off any threat of danger.

Inter responded well and quickly. Maicon bombed up from the full back position. He beat his man down by the by line and managed to fire in a sharp cross. However, it was too close to the goalkeeper who smothered and cleared.

Inter started to grow into the game. Samuel Eto’o laid a fantastic pass to Milito just inside the ten-minute mark. The front man cracked a shot towards the Palermo goal, which shook the woodwork as it went out of play.

It was indeed Milito who put Inter in the lead. All be it from the penalty spot. Bovo pulled down Lucio as a corner was whipped in and the Inter striker obliged to slot the ball into the corner from twelve yards.

Rosanero responded well and could easily have got back in the game in an entertaining way. Pastore controlled the ball well from a long pass, he made space and shot from range as the ball went just over.

Inter kept the pressure on as the game move to the halfway point of the first half. Sneijder whipped a deadly ball into the Palermo box from a free kick. Milito hustled to find some space and connected with a bullet header. It grazed the bar as he held his head in his hands.

Palermo kept going as Inter tried to slow down the pace of the game. Pastore did well out on the left flank before laying the ball off to Simplicio. He moved forward and had a pot shot from distance but Cesar watched it as it went harmlessly by.

They quickly managed to get level with a good spell of pressure. Miccoli did superbly to play the ball through for Cavani. The Palermo man had plenty of time to pick his spot and drill past an onrushing Cesar.

Inter should have gone ahead again before the break. Sneijder played a wonderful ball over the top of Palermo’s defense. Eto’o raced through but just could not control with only the goalkeeper left to take it past.

Jose Mourinho clearly had a lot to say at half time. Inter started brightly and Eto’o had the first chance of the second passage of play. He chested the ball down in front of himself and ran through with great pace. However, he just pulled his shot wide of the far post.

The same player went close a couple of minutes later when he was played a ball inside the Palermo box. The Cameroon international sent the ball towards the corner but Cassani got something on it to deflect it behind for a corner.

Palermo responded well and their player of the night, Pastore, was again in the action. He got out his box of tricks to beat two defenders on the hour mark before whipping in a cross. Cavani strained and missed the header by inches, which would have put his team in front.

The sides started exchanging punches all over again. Balzaretti looked as though he may just nip in behind the Inter defense and poke goalwards. However, Cambiasso came across at the very last moment to shepherd the ball back to Cesar.

Inter responded by bringing some experience off the subs bench. It seemed to work. Pandev laid the ball to Milito who played in Sneijder. The Dutchman met the perfect ball on the volley but blasted it way over the bar with twenty minutes left.

Inter wanted the win and pressed hard. The gap needed to be extended from AC Milan. Eto’o did superbly to completely bamboozle Kjaer before firing a shot, which was blocked at the last moment by Cassani.

Palermo had a chance to steal the points in a quick counter attack. A sloppy ball from Pandev was pounced on as Palermo players flocked forwards. The ball fell to Cavani who made space but sent his shot into row z with fellow players stretching out arms.

Walter Samuel missed possibly the best chance of the game as the game wound down to a close. Sneijder delivered a beautiful corner and the Argentine ran onto the cross all by himself. He met the header under no pressure and sent it over when it looked easier to score.

Both teams made some late substitutions in a bid to try and create late chances and freshen legs. However, it was ultimately a frustrating night for the league leaders who are now vulnerable to an attack from their city rivals.

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