Final score

11 September 2004 18:00

ChievoVerona
37' Pellissier
28' Semioli
Inter
3' (2nd half) Adriano
15' Stankovic
Referee: Gianluca Paparesta / Linesmen: Contini, Calcagno / Fourth official: Messina
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' Half time. Chievo lead Inter by two goals to one.
45' Two minutes of added time to play at the end of the first half.
45' Dejan Stankovic's ferocious shot from from 25 yards is just wide of the left post.
44' Stankovic combines superbly with Favalli on the left wing then Adriano crosses into the box. The ball is a shade too long for Vieri and Chievo win a goal kick.
42' Incredible miss by Vieri. Ze Maria delivers a superb cross from the right wing and from inside the Chievo six-yard box Bobo heads over.
38' Inter on the attack. Adriano's low shot from 25 yards is well saved by Marchegiani.
37' The Flying Donkeys take a 2-1 lead. Pellissier latches on to a defence-splitting pass then pokes the ball past Toldo.
35' D'Anna's volley from the corner goes over Toldo's crossbar.
34' Inside our penalty box Mihajlovic anticipates Cossato and concedes a right-wing corner.
33' Adriano's header from the corner is wide of the far post.
32' Ze Maria's long-range shot is deflected out for a right-wing corner kick.
29' Cossato requires treatment after a crunching tackle from Sinisa Mihajlovic.
28' Chievo come forward immediately and equalise through Semioli, who at the far post chests Franceschini's left-wing cross past Toldo. 1-1.
28' Adriano puts Vieri through on goal. Bobo tries to poke the ball under Marchegiani, who is well-positioned and saves.
24' Adriano crosses from the left wing and Vieri volleys wide from just inside the Chievo box.
23' Inter clear from the corner, then Lanna sends a long-range shot well off target.
22' Pellissier chests down a headed pass then sees his shot from the edge of the box deflected out for a corner.
19' Materazzi clears off the line after Toldo fails to beat Franceschini to Semioli's right-wing cross.
18' Veron picks out Stankovic again with a pass over to the left side of the Chievo box. Dejan heads over.
15' GOOOAAAAALLLLL!!!! Dejan Stankovic scores for Inter. Cesar fails to deal with Veron's crossfield pass then the Serb midfielder lashes the ball past Marchegiani.
12' Giuseppe Favalli is yellow-carded for fouling Semioli on the right wing.
11' Adriano takes the ball into the Chievo area then passes square to Vieri. D'Anna intercepts.
6' Cossato volleys from 20 yards but there's no power in the shot and Toldo makes an easy save.
5' Cheivo win a free kick midway inside our half for climbing on Pellissier in an aerial duel.
2' Favalli tackles Semioli on the right-wing by-line and Chievo win the first corner kick of the season. Vieri blocks Cossato's near-post header and it's another corner for the home side.
1' Inter's 2004/05 Serie A campaign starts here at the Bentegodi Stadium in Verona. Paparesta blows his whistle and Chievo kick off. FORZA NERAZZURRI!!!!
Minute Text commentary
49' The 2004/05 Serie A curtain raiser between Inter and Chievo finishes in a 2-2 draw.
49' Cesar cuts out Cambiasso's forward pass for Recoba.
48' Mihajlovic curls his free kick over the Chievo wall, Marchegiani anticipates Vieri and Adriano.
47' Free kick to Inter on the right wing after Amauri brings down Adriano.
46' Marchegiani is booked for time-wasting.
45' Four minutes of added time to play.
43' Paparesta (yes, you read that right) sets up a Chievo attack by unintentionally passing to a Gialloblu player. The move ends with Materazzi blocking Amauri's shot.
41' Alvaro Recoba tests Marchegiani from 35 yards. The Chievo keeper makes a good save.
38' Mancini brings on Esteban Cambiasso for Edgar Davids.
37' From 25 yards Allegretti shoots over.
36' Inter substitution: Alvaro Recoba comes on for Ze Maria.
35' Inter go close to a third goal. Stankovic whips in a cross from the left, Vieri heads to the far post and Ze Maria just fails to make the final touch.
33' Chievo make their third switch: Allegretti replaces Baronio.
31' The home side come forward after a period of Nerazzurri pressure. Materazzi cuts out Amauri's cross intended for Tiribocchi and Inter move out of defence.
30' Juan Veron is cautioned for a foul on Brighi.
29' Favalli plays short to Adriano on the left edge of the Chievo box. The Brazilian fends off a challenge from Mandelli then fires a diagonal shot over.
28' Chievo substitution: Cossato off, Tiribocchi on.
28' Adriano makes a run across the face of the Chievo box then sends a low, left-footed shot wide of the right post.
26' Stankovic's long-range shot swerves and finishes over the Chievo crossbar.
23' Spotting Toldo off his line, Baronio tries to lob the Nerazzurri keeper with a shot from several metres inside the Inter half. It's just wide.
21' Amauri turns Mihajlovic just outside the Inter box then pulls his shot wide of the right post.
20' Javier Zanetti blocks Franceschini's diagonal shot and Chievo win a left-wing corner.
17' Materazzi anticipates Amauri to Franceschini's left-wing cross into the Inter area.
15' Mihajlovic is booked for a foul from behind on Amauri.
14' Unmarked on the far side, Franceschini's volley from eight yards out comes off the right post.
13' Mario Beretta brings on Amauri for Pellissier.
12' Ze Maria crosses from the right, D'Anna beats Vieri to the ball and heads clear.
9' Materazzi remains on the ground after a aerial challenge with Pellissier.
8' We win a free kick 35 yards out after Veron is brought down by Baronio. The Argentine's effort comes off the Gialloblu wall.
6' Marchegiani comes off his line to beat Vieri to a forward pass.
3' 2-2. Adriano plays a one-two with Vieri then from the edge of the box sends a powerful, low shot past an immobile Marchegiani.
1' Inter kick off the second half.
1' Chievo are momentarily down to ten men as Mandelli requires attention from the medical staff after an aerial duel.
1' The Nerazzurri are straight on the attack. Stankovic's acrobatic attempt at a cross goes out of play.
Recoba
6.08
6.08
Vieri
5.25
5.25
Zanetti
5.44
5.44
Materazzi
5.68
5.68
Toldo
5.23
5.23
Adriano
7.96
7.96
Stankovic
7.53
7.53
Favalli
5.32
5.32
Veron
6.3
6.3
Cambiasso
5.75
5.75
Davids
5.57
5.57
Mihajlovic
4.2
4.2
Ze Maria
5.65
5.65
Average rating 5.84
6 shots on target 6
8 shots off target 8
14 fouls committed 18
7 corners 2
4 offsides 2
23:14 ball possession 36:25
Chievo v Inter: head-to-head

In Milan

In Verona

Total

Matches played

3

3

6

Inter victories

1

1

2

Draws

1

1

2

Chievo victories

1

1

2

Mancini v Berretta

The Inter and Chievo coaches have never met in a competitive fixture.

Disciplinary situation

Disqualified: Cordoba, C.Zanetti (Inter)

Nerazzurri Vieri always on target in Week 1

Since he has been at Inter, Christian Vieri has always scored on the opening day of the Serie A championship. He started his black and blue career with a bang in 1999/00, scoring all three in Inter 3-0 Verona, then in 2001/02 scored a brace in Inter 4-1 Perugia. In 2002/03 Bobogol was decisive in the 1-0 win at home to Torino, and he scored the Nerazzurri's first in last season's 2-0 victory over Modena. Vieri did not play in Inter's 2-1 defeat at Reggina in 2000/01, a result which cost Marcello Lippi his job as coach. The centre-forward also scored on the opening day of the season in 1995/96 (Atalanta) and 1996/97 (Juventus).

Serie A debut for Berretta

Six coaches make their Serie A debuts this weekend, including Chievo boss Mario Berretta. The others are Arrigoni (Cagliari), Mandorlini (Atalanta), Caso (Lazio), Mazzarri (Reggina) and Voeller (Roma).

Moro set for 100th A appearance

If he plays against Inter on Saturday, Fabio Moro will celebrate a century of Serie A appearances. Moro, who has played for Chievo and Torino in the top flight, made his debut in Fiorentina 2-0 Torino on 27 August 1995.

Chievo unbeaten on opening day

At the Bentegodi on Saturday ChievoVerona start their fourth Serie A championship. They have never lost on the opening day of a Serie A season, with victories away to Fiorentina (2001/02), Lazio (2002/03) and Brescia (2003/04).

If Inter score against Chievo, so does Vieri...

Christian Vieri faces ChievoVerona for the sixth time this weekend, having scored at least once when Inter have scored against the Veronese side. Vieri scored once against Chievo in 2001/02, three times in 2002/03 and once last season. The Inter forward missed the 2- 2 draw in Verona in 2001/02.

September's the month for Adriano and Materazzi

He has scored an incredible 39 goals in 76 Serie A matches and is particularly prolific in the ninth calendar month. Brazilian bomber Adriano Leite Ribeiro has notched seven goals in September (against Como, Juventus, Perugia, Lazio, Siena, Udinese and Venezia). September is also Marco Materazzi's favourite month, with six goals (against Brescello, Cagliari, Lucchese, AC Milan, Parma and Siena) to his name.

Third Serie A start on 12 September

Excluding the matches brought forward to Saturday, the Serie A championship starts on 12 September for the third time. The first time that happened was in 1937/38 and Inter went on to win the title with 41 points from 30 matches. Juventus finished second that season with 39 points. The second 12 September start was in 1982/83 when Roma won the Scudetto with 43 points from 30 matches. Once again, Juventus finished runners-up with 30 points.

Inter on target at least once in last 9 away matches

The Nerazzurri have scored at least one goal in their last nine championship matches, with a total of 17 goals scored. The last time Inter failed to score on the road was on 10 January 2004 (Parma 0-1 Inter).

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(9) draws(4) defeats(4)
VERONA - Saturday evening's Serie A TIM 2004/05 curtain raiser between Chievo and Inter at the Bentegodi finished in a 2-2 draw.

The first goal of the new season was scored by Dejan Stankovic, who put the Nerazzurri in front on 15 minutes. The Serbia&Montenegro midfielder capitalised on a defensive error by Cesar then hooked the ball past Marchegiani from close range.

The Flying Donkeys were back in the game just before the half hour, Semioli chesting home at the far post after Franceschini's left-wing cross sailed over the heads of Mihajlovic and Favalli. On 37 minutes Pellissier controlled a defence-splitting pass from Franceschini then poked under Toldo to give Chievo a half-time lead.

Adriano brought the sides level early in the second half with a trademark left-footed shot from the edge of the box after a one-two with Vieri. Inter survived a scare when Franceschini saw a shot come off the post, then Mancini's men pushed for a third goal but were kept at bay by some staunch defending from the Gialloblu back line.

The Nerazzurri entertain German champions Werder Bremen in the Champions League on Tuesday.

CHIEVO 2-2 INTER (HT: 2-1)

Scorers: Stankovic 15', Semioli 28', Pellissier 37', Adriano 48'

CHIEVO: 1 Marchegiani, 7 Signori, 8 Baronio (20 Allegretti 78'), 19 Franceschini, 23 Lanna, 24 Cossato (9 Tiribocchi 73'), 25 Cesar, 29 Mandelli, 31 Pellissier (11 Amauri 58'), 33 Brighi, 72 D'Anna
Subs not used: 34 Marcon, 14 Pesaresi, 16 De Franceschi, 32 Malago'
Coach: Beretta

INTER: 1 Toldo, 4 J.Zanetti, 8 Davids (19 Cambiasso 83'), 10 Adriano, 11 Mihajlovic, 13 Ze Maria (20 Recoba 81'), 14 Veron, 16 Favalli, 23 Materazzi, 25 Stankovic, 32 Vieri
Subs not used: 12 Fontana, 5 Emre, 9 Cruz, 26 Pasquale, 38 Dellafiore
Coach: Mancini

Referee: Paparesta (Bari)

Booked: Favalli 12', Mihajlovic 60', Veron 75', Marchegiani 90'+1'

starting lineups

Marchegiani 1 Toldo
Semioli 4 Zanetti
Baronio 8 Davids
Franceschini 10 Adriano
Lanna 11 Mihajlovic
Cossato 13 Ze Maria
Cesar 14 Veron
Mandelli 16 Favalli
Pellissier 23 Materazzi
Brighi 25 Stankovic
D'Anna 32 Vieri

substitutes

Marcon 12 Fontana
Tiribocchi 5 Emre
Amauri 9 Cruz
Pesaresi 19 Cambiasso
De Franceschi 20 Recoba
Allegretti 26 Pasquale
Malago' 38 Dellafiore