MILAN – Despite the Nerazzurri’s best efforts, it finished goalless this afternoon between Inter and Chievo Verona at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
Roberto Mancini’s side started brightly, pressing Chievo high up the field and using their wide players to good effect. It took just four minutes for Inter to work their way into the visitors’ box – D’Ambrosio found Brozovic on the wing, but the Croat couldn’t get the cross away. Two minutes later and the Nerazzurri had their first shot as Guarin’s curling effort whistled past the post.
Juan Jesus was pushing forward at every opportunity and won a corner on 19 minutes. Initially cleared, it fell to the Brazilian again, who pumped the ball back into the danger area. Mauro Icardi rose highest, only to see his header crash off the post.
Chievo were looking to keep it tight and space was hard to come by for the Inter forwards. In the 34th minute, Guarin played a nice cross in for Palacio, who looked to tee up Brozovic with a cute cushioned header. With the goal seemingly at his mercy, the Croat’s shot was straight at Bizzarri. There was time for another chance before half-time, but Vidic couldn’t quite get his header on target.
The Nerazzurri came roaring out of the blocks once again in the second half and a fierce cross saw Schelotto very nearly put the ball into his own net within a few minutes of the restart. On 59 minutes, Palacio worked his way into the area and thrashed a powerful shot at goal, but Dainelli got his body in the way.
Chievo started to grow into the game and had a good chance as Radovanovic found himself one-on-one with Handanovic. The Inter goalie did well to make the save and avert the danger. It was a good spell for the visitors and Paloschi came close soon after, but Handanovic showed his mettle to make the stop.
Inter dug in and wrestled the initiative back from Chievo. D’Ambrosio found substitute Lukas Podolski in a good position, but the German couldn’t repeat his Udinese heroics. Another sub, Shaqiri, unleashed a smart left-footed shot on 77 minutes, but the ball just wouldn’t go in.
Icardi nearly found the elusive goal with a spectacular overhead kick, but by now there was a palpable sense that it simply wasn’t Inter’s day. There was time for Chievo to threaten once more, as Biraghi hammered a long-range effort off the crossbar with Handanovic beaten. The Nerazzurri continued to push, but there were to be no goals at San Siro this afternoon.
INTER 0-0 CHIEVO VERONA
INTER: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 23 Ranocchia, 15 Vidic, 5 Juan Jesus; 13 Guarin, 18 Medel, 77 Brozovic (Podolski 53); 88 Hernanes (Shaqiri 64); 8 Palacio (Kovacic 77), 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 20 Obi, 21 Santon, 26 Felipe, 27 Gnoukouri, 28 Puscas, 55 Nagatomo, 93 Dimarco, 97 Bonazzoli.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
CHIEVO VERONA: 1 Bizzarri; 24 Schelotto, 3 Dainelli (Sardo 60), 12 Cesar, 21 Frey (Biraghi 7); 10 Christiansen, 8 Radovanovic, 13 Izco, 56 Hetemaj (Gamberini 57); 43 Paloschi, 69 Meggiorini.
Subs not used: 25 Bardi, 90 Seculin, 9 Pozzi, 11 Vajushi, 14 Cofie, 18 Fetfatzidis, 19 Botta, 23 Birsa, 31 Pellissier.
Coach: Rolando Maran.
Booked: Biraghi 24, Medel 36, Podolski 63, Shaqiri 86.
Added time: 1 + 4 mins.
Referee: Guida.
Assistants: De Pinto, De Liberatore.
Fourth official: Meli.
Additional assistants: Calvarese, La Penna.
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