Final score

7 March 2009 18:00

Genoa
Inter
15' (2nd half) Balotelli
2' Ibrahimovic
Referee: Emidio Morganti / Linesmen: Ayroldi, Lanciano / Fourth official: Rocchi
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
50' It's 1-0 to Inter after a fast and furious first half at the Luigi Ferraris.
49' Good chance for Inter. Figo serves Ibrahimovic who has a clear rout on goal but Rubinho comes out of his area to close down the Swede. Ibra blocks the Genoa keeper's clearance but the ball goes behind for a goal kick.
47' Ibrahimovic is shown a yellow card for charging into Bocchetti.
45' Four minutes of added time to play.
45' Milito's cross into the box is cleared but Genoa remain in attack and Julio Cesar is forced into two quick saves from Thiago Motta and Milito.
44' Free kick to Genoa in the Inter third after a tactical foul by Mario Balotelli on Criscito.
43' Bocchetti makes a headed clearance from a free kick awarded for a Biava foul on Ibrahimovic.
40' Back at the other end it's a right-wing corner for Inter. Luis Figo's outswinging cross is palmed away by Rubinho.
39' Cambiasso and Muntari block Milito's right-wing cross as the Rossoblu come straight back at Mourinho's men. Milito crosses again and Julio Cesar saves.
38' Inter back on the attack. Ibra fails to control Muntari's through pass and the ball rolls through to Rubinho.
34' Free kick for Genoa in a central position around 25 metres from goal. Thiago Motta wastes a good chance, lifting his free kick over the wall and over the bar.
32' Nico is unable to continue. He is replaced by Muntari and Cambiasso slots in alongside Cordoba at the centre of defence.
31' Genoa win a left-wing corner kick but nothing comes of it as Juric's cross is cleared.
29' More problems for Inter as Burdisso appears to have suffered an injury. Muntari is all set to come on but for the moment El Padroncito is playing on.
28' Another chance for Genoa as Sculli heads Criscito's inswinging cross straight at Julio Cesar.
26' There's no let-up in the pressue and Maicon touches back to his keeper to deny Jankovic a crossing chance.
22' Milito is flagged for offside as he runs on to a through pass from Sculli. The Argentine protests about the decision, earning himself a yellow card.
21' Genoa close to an equaliser. Biava crosses for Thiago Motta who powers his header on target, but what a save by Julio Cesar!
19' Morganti has words with Balotelli after a foul from behind on Juric.
17' Mario Balotelli swings in a cross from the right. It sails over the head of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
16' Marco is unable to continue. On comes Ivan Ramiro Cordoba.
15' It looks like Inter will be forced into an early change as Materazzi has pulled up with a knee problem.
15' It's all Genoa at the moment but there's no way through the Nerazzurri defence as Stankovic blocks and clears Criscito's thumped cross from the left.
13' The home fans roar free kick as Milito goes down under a challenge from Javier Zanetti but the Inter captain's tackle was inch perfect.
11' Sculli blazes over after receiving in space from Milito, but the flag goes up for offside.
10' Marco Materazzi makes a diving clearance from Jankovic's cross as Genoa look for openings down the left.
9' Genoa cpatain Marco Rossi gets to the byline and crosses, but the flag goes up as the ball went out of play.
6' SuperMario muscles his way past two Rossoblu players in the area but slips before he can take on a third.
5' Free kick to Inter on the left wing. Balotelli's curling cross is caught by Rubinho at the back post.
2' That was Ibra's 18th goal in all competitions this season.
2' GOAL!!!!! Inter hit straight back and take the lead through Ibrahimovic. The Swedish striker controls Stankovic's lofted pass with his head and lobs the onrushing Rubinho. GENOA 0-1 INTER.
1' Four days after our cup defeat to Sampdoria, we're back at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris for the Serie A Week 27 match against Genoa. Let's hope for a different result this time.
1' A scare for Inter in the opening seconds as Milito plays through to Thiago Motta who fires wide with just Julio Cesar to beat.
1' Genoa kick off. FORZA INTER!!!
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso, 23 Materazzi, 39 Santon; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic; 7 Figo; 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.<br> Subs: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 10 Adriano, 11 Jimenez, 18 Crespo, 20 Muntari, 33 Mancini.
1' Genoa: 83 Rubinho; 25 Biava, 13 Ferrari, 26 Bocchetti; 7 Rossi, 28 Juric, 88 Thiago Motta, 4 Criscito; 14 Sculli, 22 Milito, 17 Jankovic.<br> Subs: 73 Scarpi, 10 Palladino, 11 Olivera, 15 Papastathopoulos, 20 Mesto, 23 Modesto, 77 Milanetto.
1' It's 3-4-3 against 4-4-2 with Sculli, Milito and Jankovic spearheading the Rossoblu attack, and Ibrahimovic up front with Balotelli for Inter.
1' Inter will take to the pitch wearing the Centenary shirt as the club's 100th anniversary celebrations come full circle on 9 March. You too can wear it one more time - visit store.inter.it for all the details.
1' A win today will see Mourinho's Nerazzurri open up a double-figure lead at the top of the table, with second-placed Juventus in action tonight.
Minute Text commentary
48' Full time. Inter beat Genoa 2-0 thanks to goals in each half from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mario Balotelli. See you on Wednesday for the Champions League round of 16 return leg against Manchester United.
47' Olivera's flicked header from Milito's left-wing cross is over JC's bar.
45' Three minutes left to play.
45' Cambiasso blocks a Palladino shot in the last few seconds before the onset of added time.
44' Maicon goes for goal from the right edge of the Genoa box. His effort is high and wide.
44' Mancini tests Rubinho with a low diagonal shot after receiving from Ibrahimovic. Corner.
40' Juric's free kick poses few problems for the Nerazzurri defence.
39' Mancini is yellow-carded for foul on Olivera.
38' Biava weaves his way into the box and crosses. Cordoba sweeps clear.
37' Palladino collects on the right wing and delivers a cross. Julio Cesar beats Rossi to the ball.
35' Ten minutes to go, plus added time. Surely there's no way back for the Rossoblu.
33' Free kick to Genoa on the left after a Balotelli foul on Criscito. Julio Cesar makes a punched clearance from the resulting cross.
32' Genoa close again. Olivera dribbles Cambiasso and pokes short to Biava who fires wide from eight yards.
31' Cordoba closes down Rossi before the Genoa captain can unleash a shot after a right-wing corner.
30' Olivera looks for Milito but Cambiasso makes a headed clearance.
28' Balotelli is booked for time-wasting.
28' And Gasperini brings on Mesto for Bocchetti.
27' José brings on Mancini for Figo.
27' Ferrari is booked for a foul from behind on Balotelli.
23' A chance for Genoa. Thiago Motta plays through to Marco Rossi who controls with his left and pokes over with his right.
21' Substitution number two for Gasperini. Olivera replaces Sculli.
16' GOAL!!!!! Julio Cesar's long goal kick is headed into the path of Mario Balotelli by Ibrahimovic and the Italian scores with a low diagonal shot that Rossi can't prevent from crossing the line.
15' Balotelli blasts his free kick way over the crossbar.
14' Biava is yellow-carded for bringing down Santon and Inter win a free kick about 25 metres from goal.
11' Gasperini makes his first change: Palladino for Jankovic.
10' Criscito one-twos with Thiago Motta. Cordoba intercepts, forcing Julio Cesar to boot behind for a corner.
8' Stankovic crashes over after meeting Ibrahimovic's headed pass just outside the Rossoblu box.
8' Thiago Motta gets a yellow card for tripping Mario Balotelli.
7' Biava is first to a rebound and slices on target. Easy save for Julio Cesar.
6' Sculli makes a headed clearance from Maicon's right-wing cross. Seconds later, Balotelli gets in a cross from the same flank but Rubinho saves at the far post.
3' Corner for Genoa. Juric's cross is cleared by Zanetti. Bocchetti pounces on the loose ball and shoots from distance but his effort is easily blocked by the Inter rearguard.
1' Inter get part two under way.
Zanetti
7.41
7.41
Cordoba
7.06
7.06
Materazzi
6.43
6.43
Stankovic
7.66
7.66
Cambiasso
8.73
8.73
Burdisso
6.38
6.38
Julio Cesar
8.76
8.76
Figo
6.14
6.14
Maicon
6.81
6.81
Ibrahimovic
7.66
7.66
Balotelli
7.49
7.49
Mancini
6.11
6.11
Muntari
6.31
6.31
Santon
7.37
7.37
Average rating 7.16
5 shots on target 3
6 shots off target 3
16 fouls committed 20
7 corners 2
4 offsides 0
26:31 ball possession 22:08
Gasperini v Mourinho

Saturday's Serie A clash in Genoa is Gasperini's first home meeting with José Mourinho after a league draw and a cup defeat in Milan.

Details:
2008/09 Serie A Genoa-Inter ---- 0-0
2008/09 Coppa Italia Genoa-Inter ---- 1-3

Gasperini v Inter

The Genoa coach is without a win in four meetings with Inter (2 draws and 2 defeats).

Details:
2007/08 Serie A Genoa-Inter 1-1 1-4
2008/09 Serie A Genoa-Inter ---- 0-0
2008/09 Coppa Italia Genoa-Inter ---- 1-3

Mourinho v Genoa

Mourinho faces Genoa for the third time (first time away from home) after a win and a draw from league and cup fixtures at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Details:
2008/09 Serie A Inter-Genoa 0-0 ----
2008/09 Coppa Italia Inter-Genoa 3-1 ----

Disciplinary info

Genoa
Cautioned: Biava, Ferrari, Jankovic, T.Motta, Papastathopoulos, Rossi, Vanden Borre.
Disqualified: -

Inter
Cautioned: Samuel, Zanetti.
Disqualified: Vieira.

Genoa: one defeat in last 14 league games

The Rossoblu's only defeat in their last 14 games was the 3-0 loss away to Roma on 8 February 2009. In the other 13 games Gasperini's side have won 6 and drawn 7.

Genoa unbeaten, on target in every home game this season

Gian Piero Gasperini's team have avoided defeat in all 14 of their league and cup games in 2008/09, winning 10, drawing 4 and scoring every time for a total of 30 goals. Their last home defeat was a 2-0 reverse against Lazio last 11 May.

Genoa one of three teams with most red cards

Genoa, ChievoVerona and Roma have had 7 players sent off after 26 rounds of 2008/09 Serie A matches - more than any other team. In alphabetical order, Genoa's Biava, Ferrari, Juric, Milanetto, Papastathopoulos, Rossi and Sculli have seen red this season.

Inter on target in 17 consecutive league games

Inter last failed to score in a Serie A fixture on 29 October 2008 when Mourinho's team were held 0-0 by Fiorentina in Florence. Inter have since played 17 top-flight games, scoring a total of 34 goals.

Sixteen different Inter players on target this season

No team has scored with as many different players as Inter in this season's Serie A championship. In alphabetical order, the 16 Inter players who have scored league goals this season are: Adriano, Balotelli, Burdisso, Cambiasso, Cordoba, Crespo, Cruz, Figo, Ibrahimovic, Maicon, Maxwell, Muntari, Obinna, Samuel, Stankovic and Vieira.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(19) draws(25) defeats(28)

GENOA - Inter brought the club's Centenary celebrations to a close with a 2-0 victory over Genoa, sending the Rossoblu to their first home defeat this season and notching a 10th away win from 14 league games.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored with a delightful touch inside two minutes and Mario Balotelli added the second after half time to keep Inter's Serie A lead intact ahead of Monday's 101st anniversary.

For Saturday's return trip to the Luigi Ferraris, Inter boss José Mourinho reverted to 4-4-2 with Ibrahimovic back in attack alongside Balotelli, and Figo and Materazzi returning to the starting lineup.

Genoa coach Gian Piero Gasperini made one change to the side that drew 0-0 at Siena last weekend, bringing in Sculli for Mesto.

Inter's players, wearing the iconic Centenary shirt for one last time, survived a scare in the opening minute when Thiago Motta wasted a gilt-edged chance from Milito's through ball, but the Nerazzurri hit straight back and took the lead through Ibrahimovic, who lobbed the onrushing Rubinho for his 18th of the season after controlling Stankovic's intuitive ball over the defence.

Mourinho was forced into an early change with less than 16 minutes on the clock, with Ivan Cordoba coming on for Marco Materazzi who hobbled off with a muscular problem in his left leg.

The Colombian barely had time to settle when Thiago Motta forced a splendid save from Julio Cesar with a bullet header from Milito's cross.

The home side continued their pursuit for an equaliser and Sculli headed Criscito's curling cross straight at the Inter keeper before the onset of more injury problems for the Inter defence. Nicolas Burdisso, struggling with a right leg injury, made way for Sulley Muntari, with Cambiasso switching from midfield to defence.

Julio Cesar made two crucial saves in quick succession from Thiago Motta and Milito on the stroke of half time as Inter took their lead into the break, unlucky not to be two goals up after Figo put Ibrahimovic through on goal.

Genoa stepped up the pressure after the break but Julio Cesar showed why he is one of the world's most in-form keepers with a save from Biava and more quick thinking after a one-two between Criscito and Thiago Motta.

Any signs of a Rossoblu comeback took a severe dent in the 61st minute when Ibrahimovic headed Julio Cesar's long goal kick into the path of Balotelli, who took the ball several yards wide before scoring his sixth of the season with a low diagonal shot that Marco Rossi failed to prevent from crossing the line.

Genoa captain Rossi had a quick chance to make amends for his earlier error, poking over the bar after being put through on goal by Thiago Motta. Gasperini's men went close again when substitute Olivera took the ball past Cambiasso and served Biava who rifled wide from close range.

Genoa 0-2 Inter (HT: 0-1)

Scorers: Ibrahimovic 2, Balotelli 61.

Genoa: 83 Rubinho; 25 Biava, 13 Ferrari, 26 Bocchetti (20 Mesto 73); 7 Rossi, 28 Juric, 88 Thiago Motta, 4 Criscito; 14 Sculli (11 Olivera 66), 22 Milito, 17 Jankovic (10 Palladino 56).
Subs not used: 73 Scarpi, 15 Papastathopoulos, 23 Modesto, 77 Milanetto.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso (20 Muntari 31), 23 Materazzi (2 Cordoba 16), 39 Santon; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic; 7 Figo (33 Mancini 72); 8 Ibrahimovic, 45 Balotelli.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 10 Adriano, 11 Jimenez, 18 Crespo.
Coach: Jose Mourinho.

Referee: Emidio Morganti (Ascoli Piceno).

Booked: Milito 22, Ibrahimovic 45+2, Thiago Motta 53, Biava 59, Ferrari 72, Balotelli 73, Mancini 84.

starting lineups

Rubinho 12 Julio Cesar
Biava 13 Maicon
Ferrari 16 Burdisso
Bocchetti 23 Materazzi
Rossi 39 Santon
Juric 4 Zanetti
Thiago Motta 19 Cambiasso
Criscito 5 Stankovic
Sculli 7 Figo
Milito 8 Ibrahimovic
Jankovic 45 Balotelli

substitutes

Scarpi 1 Toldo
Modesto 2 Cordoba
Papastathopoulos 11 Jimenez
Milanetto 20 Muntari
Palladino 33 Mancini
Olivera 10 Adriano
Mesto 18 Crespo