Match Reports

Another Inter Milan game and another draw. Inter drew 0-0 against Sampdoria on Saturday night, but I consider it a point gained and not two points dropped and Inter played the entire second half with nine men after defenders Walter Samuel and Ivan Cordoba had been sent off.

Sampdoria failed to capitalize on its numerical advantage though and finished the game with 10 players after striker Giampaolo Pazzini earned his second yellow card midway through the second half.

Samuel Eto’o had the best chance of the match late in the second half, but despite being one on one with the Sampdoria goalkeeper, Eto’o who has had a disappointing first season with Inter, failed to find the net.

Controversial teen striker Mario “supermario” Balotelli came off the bench to net the equaliser that extended Inter’s lead at the top of the Serie A table to 9 points.

Inter were away to Parma at the Enio Tardini stadium and it was danger man Valeri Bojinov who put the home side ahead in the 54th minute. However, Balotelli who had only come on just minutes earlier levelled 5 minutes later when Parma failed to clear a corner and the ball fell right on queue for Mario to finish. Parma’s goal  came about in quite the same fashion as Inter also failed to clear corner that resulted in their short 5 minute lead.

Big win for Inter today as they outclassed Cagliari 3-0 and with the win, and the Milan draw, Inter moved 10 points clear at the top of Serie A.

Goran Pandev and Walter Samuel gave Inter a dream start, both scoring in the first 20 minutes, and then Diego Milito wrapped it up in the second half.

True to his admission in the pre-match press conference Mourinho renounced playing a diamond and fielded three strikers with Eto’o returning to the starting lineup for the first time since his return from Africa Cup of Nations duty. With Sneijder out suspended and Stankovic still not fit, the Portuguese went for a midfield line of Zanetti, Cambiasso and Thiago Motta. Cordoba and Samuel were recalled in defence with Lucio sitting out the Week 23 clash through suspension.

Inter are still on course for a domestic double, while it looks like another trophyless season for Juventus.

Inter left it late, as Mario Balotelli scored the 89th-minute winner as Inter beat Juventus 2-1 in the Italian Cup quarterfinals. Inter will face Fiorentina in the two-leg semifinals on Feb. 3 and 10, while AS Roma faces Udinese in the other half of the draw.

Inter were behind early on when Diego burst past Cambiasso on the left and created space before firing a low shot under Francesco Toldo.from a free kick.