MILAN - Inter and Genoa held a minute's silence before kick-off in memory of former Nerazzurri vice president Gianmaria Visconti di Modrone, who died aged 80 on Thursday.
Inter made a fast start and could have taken the lead inside two minutes. Captain for the night, Palacio won the ball back and linked up with Ljajic who rolled it square to the onrushing Felipe Melo. The cross, however, was slightly behind the Brazilian and he shot over.
The Nerazzurri kept pushing with Jovetic and Ljajic posing their main threat. With a quarter of an hour on the clock, Palacio flicked the ball onto Jovetic who was clean through. There was contact with Ansaldi - albeit outside the penalty area - but Mr Giacomelli waved play on.
Soon after Biabiany found space between the lines before finding Ljajic who combined with Jovetic. The Serbian, however, shot off target with his left.
Inter were the more positive of the two sides, with Genoa content to sit deep in a 5-3-2 system and look to hit the Nerazzurri on the counter. On the half-hour mark, we had the game's first caution after contact between Tino Costa and Medel saw the Genoa man go into the book. The first half saw a few more half-chances but little of any real note.
The best opportunity of the first period came two minutes shy of the break, however. Jovetic worked it wide for Alex Telles and his cross was met by the head of Ljajic at the back post. Somehow Perin got down to produce a wonder save and keep it out.
The Nerazzurri were forced to make a change for the second half, with Felipe Melo suffering the ill effects of a head injury sustained in the opening 45 minutes. Marcelo Brozovic replaced him after the break. The second half began with a slow tempo but the Rossoblu created the first meaningful opportunity. Figueiras shot back across goal and Handanovic got down smartly to repel the effort.
The deadlock was broken on the hour mark. Ljajic won a free-kick midway inside the Genoa half and took the resulting set-piece himself. Perin was caught in two minds as players looked to meet the whipped delivery and the ball skipped into the far corner to give the Nerazzurri the lead. Moments later, Inter had the ball in the net again but Mr Giacomelli stopped play for an offside decision against Ljajic, though replays later showed he was level.
The Nerazzurri pushed forward in search of a second and Mancini threw on Perisic in place of Jovetic. Ljajic came close again, cutting inside to leave Burdisso on his backside only to shoot straight at Perin,
Handanovic showed he was alert, denying Tino Costa's fierce drive late on. D'Ambrosio was then shown a second yellow for a foul on halfway, leaving Inter to play the final eight minutes with a man light. Guarin came on for Palacio in stoppage time and Inter held on for three points in front of 40,000 at the Meazza.
The Nerazzurri therefore return to winning ways after the defeat at Napoli and sit top of the table ahead of the weekend's remaining fixtures.
Inter 1-0 Genoa (HT: 0-0)
Scorers: Ljajic 60.
Inter: 1 Handanovic; 33 D'Ambrosio, 25 Miranda, 24
Murillo, 12 Telles; 83 Melo (77 Brozovic 46), 17 Medel; 11 Biabiany, 8
Palacio (13 Guarin 89), 22 Ljajic; 10 Jovetic Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 46 Berni, 5 Jesus, 6 Dodò, 9 Icardi, 14 Montoya, 23 Ranocchia, 27 Gnoukouri, 97 Manaj.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.
Genoa: 1 Perin; 5 Izzo (90 Cissokho 80), 8
Burdisso, 3 Ansaldi; 11 Figueiras (21 Pandev 74), 88 Rincon, 20 Tino
Costa, 93 Laxalt; 22 Lazovic (16 Capel 60), 10 Perotti, 13 Gakpe.
Subs not used: 23 Lamanna, 27 Ujkani, 4 De Maio, 18 Ntcham, 38 Ricozzi, 54 Sandro, 97 Ghiglione.
Coach: Gianpiero Gasperini.
Booked: Tino Costa 27, D'Ambrosio 69, Telles 82, Ansaldi 89, Perotti 90+1.
Sent off: D'Ambrosio 86.
Added time: 3+4 minutes.
Referee: Giacomelli.
Assistants: Di Fiore & Vuoto.
Fourth official: Padovan.
Additional assistants: Valeri & Baracani.
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