Inter v Bologna Match Report

Inter were held to a goalless draw in Bologna as they opened their defence of the Scudetto in uninspiring fashion.

Tenacious second half defending by Bologna, and some superb reflex saves from goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, meant the champions endured a frustrating evening having dominated possession throughout.

Samuel Eto’o came closest when he hit the bar from close range, but a tremendous one-handed save by Viviano from Wesley Sneijder’s 73rd minute free-kick was the story of their night.

Failure to win isn’t the end of the world for Rafael Benitez in his first Serie A game in charge, but he certainly would have expected to begin his tenure with three points.

But Inter lacked verve in the final third and on the few occasions that the Nerazzurri did break Bologna down, they were faced with a goalkeeper showing the kind of form that has seen him called up to Italy’s national squad this week.

Both sides were restricted to half chances throughout a tight first half, during which McDonald Mariga, replacement for the injured Maicon, had Inter’s best effort but his right footed shot from inside the area flashed across the Bologna goal.

Sneijder, who was bright and lively throughout, also saw a powerful free kick fly inches over the bar from 25 yards during the dying moments of the first half.
The Dutchman’s invention saw him cause Bologna all kinds of problems with Bologna right-back, Andrea Esposito, booked for a blatant block on Sneijder when he had no other way of stopping a lightning quick counter attack.

But Bologna shaded the best of the first half chances even if they were dominated in possession, with the best opportunity falling three minutes before half time to Gimenez, who received Di Vaio’s cross from the right on his chest, let it bounce once, before firing marginally over the bar, with Julio Cesar stranded.

In another moment of indecision at the back for Inter, Lucio was almost undone when his hooked clearance on the turn fell at the feet of Henry Gimenez, who tried to lob Julio Cesar who was in no man’s land, and although the ball cleared the keeper it dropped a couple of feet over the bar.

Inter were a long way from their seamless best but managed to increase their performance level in the second half, showing the intensity and drive that was crucial to the Jose Mourinho ethic.

Eto’o, who was a constant threat wide on the left, created a couple of chances as Inter raised their game and it was his low drive from 20 yards that sparked an assault on the Bologna goal for the last 30 minutes of the game.

Inter remained methodical in their attempts to break Bologna down, but the home side managed to keep the door bolted and deserved to take a point from this game, despite a few breathless moments in the closing minutes as Inter threw the kitchen sink at their opponents.

For Bologna, they will be encouraged by an excellent defensive display against an attack that tore defences across Europe to shreds last season. But for Inter, they will have to dust off the summer cobwebs ahead of their next Serie A game with Udinese.