MILAN - Felipe Melo's first goal for Inter was enough to see off Verona at the Meazza and maintain the Nerazzurri's 100% start to the season.
The Brazilian rose to meet Alex Telles' corner in the 56th minute and steer home a bullet header, securing a fifth straight Serie A victory for Roberto Mancini's men.
Inter made two changes to the side that beat Chievo at the Bentegodi on Sunday. The returning Joao Miranda replaced Jeison Murillo alongside Gary Medel at the heart of the defence and Adem Ljajic made his first start for the club in place of Stevan Jovetic.
The first half an hour was low on thrills, save for a couple of yellow cards and an ankle injury to Giampaolo Pazzini which saw him forced off 20 minutes in.
Kondogbia was the third name to go into the book in the 37th minute before the match finally sparked into life four minutes later, with Davide Santon and Felipe Melo both going close.
Then, on the stroke of half time, Melo teed up Medel but the Chilean's blast from a good position was charged down.
Hellas almost took the lead ten minutes into the second period when Jacopo Sala concluded a counter-attack by rattling the bar with an effort from the edge of the box.
Two minutes later, just as Jovetic was preparing to make his entrance, along came the opener. Alex Telles swung a corner onto the head of Felipe Melo and the Brazilian's powerful finish sent the Meazza wild.
The Montenegrin striker replaced Ljajic straight after and wasted little time in dazzling the crowd with a sublime piece of skill, deftly touching a midair volley back into the path of Perisic, who was denied his first goal in black and blue by Rafael's save.
Jovetic and Perisic had further chances to double Inter's lead as the minutes ran down but there were to be no more goals. Another three points takes the Nerazzurri up to 15 at the Serie A summit and they now look forward to hosting second-placed Fiorentina (12 points) at the Meazza next Sunday.
Inter 1-0 Hellas Verona (HT 0-0)
Scorer: Felipe Melo 56.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 21 Santon, 17 Medel, 25 Miranda, 12 Telles (23 Ranocchia, 88); 13 Guarin, 83 Melo, 7 Kondogbia (11 Biabiany, 62); 44 Perisic, 22 Ljajic (10 Jovetic, 57); 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 98 Radu, 8 Palacio, 14 Montoya, 27 Gnoukouri, 33 D'Ambrosio, 55 Nagatomo, 77 Brozovic, 97 Manaj.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Hellas Verona: 1 Rafael; 22 Bianchetti, 18 Moras, 5 Helander; 6 Albertazzi (69 Souprayen, 70), 26 Sala (20 Zaccagni, 75), 24 Viviani, 19 Greco, 3 Pisano; 11 Pazzini (16 Siligardi, 20), 21 Gomez.
Subs not used: 37 Coppola, 95 Gollini, 13 Wszolek, 27 Matuzalem, 41 Winck, 74 Guglielmelli, 97 Checchin.
Coach: Andrea Mandorlini.
Booked: Guarin 3, Albertazzi 8, Kondogbia 37, Sala 61, Greco 64, Helander 82, Melo 90+1, Biabiany 90+3.
Added time: 2+3 minutes.
Referee: Russo.
Assistants: Dobosz, Paganessi.
Fourth official: Crispo.
Additional assistants: Guida, Pezzuto.
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LE PAROLE DI MANCINI POST INTER HELLAS VERONA
