Final score

15 April 2007 20:30

Inter
29' (2nd half) Adriano
22' (2nd half) Cruz
Palermo
46' Zaccardo
3' Caracciolo
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli / Linesmen: Romagnoli, Nicoletti / Fourth official: Romeo
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
47' Palermo lead Inter by two goals to nil at half time.
47' Dellafiore heads behind to deny Cruz a chance for a reply on the stroke of half time.
46' Zaccardo stuns San Siro with a slotted effort into the top-right corner from Barzagli's pass. Inter 0-2 Palermo.
45' 2 minutes of added time.
45' Cassani misses a good chance for Palermo, firing wide after taking too long before picking his spot.
44' Maicon's downwards header from Figo's dangerous inswinging cross is wide of the left post.
44' Grosso wins Inter a free kick 30 yards out on the left.
44' Grosso takes on two opponents during a mazy run down the left then delivers the cross. Barzagli makes an elegant first-time clearance.
43' Cruz tries to surprise Fontana with a lob but the Rosanero keeper is well positioned.
42' Julio Cesar gets down at the left post to block a low 25-yard shot from Cavani.
41' Maicon pokes through to his compatriot Adriano who is surrounded by three Rosanero players and forced to backtrack.
40' Bresciano combines with Simplicio and hooks over the Inter defence for Cavani, but Julio Cesar is quick out to win the ball.
40' Inter attack back. El Jardinero is denied by Fontana who saves at full stretch, but the flag goes up for offside.
37' At the other end Cambiasso crashes on target from 20 yards. Fontana gets down to make the save.
37' Caracciolo volleys home from close range but Rizzoli had already blown his whistle for a foul by Barzagli on Cruz.
36' Palermo win a corner after Simplicio's right-wing cross is blocked by Fabio Grosso.
33' Figo has a corner cleared as far as Olivier Dacourt whose long-range effort is over.
32' Inter replace Crespo (injury) with Julio Cruz.
30' Cavani booked for handball.
30' Bresciano makes another strong run on goal and plays wide to Diana before testing Julio Cesar with a first-time shot from Burdisso's clearance. Good save by our Brazilian keeper.
29' Palermo hit back through Mark Bresciano. The Australian makes a darting run and feeds Cavani whose diagonal effort is wide.
29' Cambiasso makes a central run on goal Zaccardo times his tackle well and dispossesses the Argentine.
26' Guana makes a headed clearance from Figo's inswinging free kick.
25' Caracciolo booked for pulling back Figo on the left. Another free kick in a similar position for Inter.
25' Figo plays square to Grosso, whose 20-yard strike is blocked by the Palermo defence.
24' Grosso is tripped by former Inter defender Dellafiore on the left edge of the Inter area. Free kick.
22' Back in our half, Cavani sends a left-foot effort over the bar.
22' Inter come straight back at Palermo. Crespo's skywards header from Figo's left-wing cross is caught by Fontana.
21' Barzagli blocks and clears a Maicon cross from the Palermo third. The Rosanero counter-attack but the final pass for Caracciolo is cut out by the Nerazzurri defence.
20' Nothing comes of the resulting corner as Burdisso's header is saved ex-Inter keeper Fontana (24 appearances in four seasons with the Nerazzurri).
19' Grosso creates havoc for his ex-side with a low cross to the edge of the six-yard box. Barzagli makes a sliding clearance to deny Crespo a tap-in.
18' Crespo's hooked pass for Adriano is cut out by Italy defender Barzagli.
17' Hernan Crespo races down the right and gets to the edge of the Sicilian box but is well tackled by Guana.
17' Crespo appears to be pulled over by Cassani as both players attempt to get on the end of Figo's inswinging cross. Inter have a penalty appeal turned down by referee Rizzoli.
16' Adriano's cross from the left is blocked. Corner for Inter.
16' Caracciolo is just offside as he runs to meet a Simplicio through pass.
12' Diana looks for Cavani with a pass into the Inter area. Marco Materazzi gets there first.
11' Palermo hit back at the Nerazzurri and go close to a second. Cassani smacks the underside of the Inter crossbar via the palm of Julio Cesar with a fierce 20-yard strike.
10' Adri and Burdisso rise in the box but fail to connect with Figo's inswinger from the left.
10' Maicon's shot from distance is just over Alberto Fontana's bar.
9' Simplicio beats Maicon to a Figo free kick as Inter attack back.
7' Bresciano fires wide from 25 yards after Cassani's cut-back.
6' Materazzi beats Zaccardo to Barzagli's left-wing corner as Palermo continue to put the Nerazzurri under pressure in the opening minutes.
3' The visitors take the lead through Caracciolo, who slots under Julio Cesar from six yards after meeting Simplicio's through ball. Inter 0-1 Palermo.
2' Caracciolo's header from Bresciano's free kick is deflected out for a left-wing corner kick.
1' Welcome to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza for Inter v Palermo.
1' Materazzi fouls Barazagli. Free kick to Palermo just under 35 yards out.
1' We're under way at the Meazza as the Rosanero kick off. FORZA NERAZZURRI!!!
1' Palermo: 12 Fontana; 2 Zaccardo, 43 Barzagli, 15 Dellafiore, 16 Cassani; 14 Guana, 30 Simplicio, 23 Bresciano, 8 Diana; 7 Cavani, 10 Caracciolo.
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso, 23 Materazzi, 11 Grosso; 7 Figo, 19 Cambiasso, 15 Dacourt, 4 Zanetti; 10 Adriano, 18 Crespo.
1' Roma cut Inter's lead to 15 points with their 4-0 victory over Sampdoria earlier today, but a win tonight and a draw against the Giallorossi on Wednesday will be enough to seal our second consecutive Serie A title.
Minute Text commentary
48' Full time. Inter come back from behind to hold Palermo 2-2. See you on Wednesday for Inter v Roma.
48' Full time. Inter come back from behind to hold Palermo 2-2.
45' 3 minutes of overtime.
45' Cruz' right-footed effort from the free kick is over the right post.
44' Inter win a free kick in a central position 20 yards out, awarded for a Guana foul on Cruz.
41' Adriano receives from Maicon on the left, holds off challenges from two opponents, and flicks into the area for Ibrahimovic, whose first-time shot is blocked by Fontana.
39' Figo blasts home a diagonal shot but the flag goes up for offside. It would have been his first goal since the Super Cup against Roma last August.
36' Fontana blocks an Adriano header from a Maicon cross.
33' Ibrahimovic's cross-shot from Stankovic's pass is over.
32' Cavani clears the Serb's cross. Maicon's follow-up strike is over the bar.
32' Stankovic's cross is deflected behind for a right-wing corner.
30' Giacomazzi booked for a foul on Figo. The free kick is in a central position 35 yards out.
29' That was Adri's first goal since his effort in the 2-0 victory over Chievo in Verona on 11 February.
29' GOOOOAAALLLL!!!!! Adriano nods in Figo's inswinging cross after a storming run down the middle by Nicolas Burdisso. Inter 2-2 Palermo.
28' Ibrahimovic's looping header from Figo's left-wing cross is caught by Fontana.
26' Palermo bring on Giacomazzi for Caracciolo.
25' Bresciano just fails to connect with Simplicio's ball into the box. Julio Cesar is quick off his line to gather.
24' Simplicio slices clear an Ibra cross from the left.
22' JULIO CRUZ!!!!! El Jardinero pulls one back for the Nerazzurri. Figo whips in a cross from the left and the Argentine's flicked header gives Fontana no chance.
19' Adriano rises at the back post but heads wide Figo's cross.
19' Back in the Sicilian half Inter win a left-wing corner.
18' Julio Cesar blocks a central 20-yard shot from Simplicio.
18' Mancini has an ace up his sleeve. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who hasn't played since the away match against Ascoli on 18 March, replaces Olivier Dacourt.
17' Julio Cruz yellow-carded for a foul from behind on Zaccardo.
13' Argentine defender Dellafiore holds off Adriano to beat the Brazilian to Stankovic's long pass and bring the ball out of defence.
12' It's all Inter in the opening stages of the second half. Barzagli beats Adri to Maicon's floated cross and makes a headed clearance.
11' Dellafiore thwarts Dejan Stankovic after the Serb midfielder muscles his way into the Rosanero box.
8' Stankovic replaces Grosso.
7' Inter have a goal disallowed for offside. Figo bursts past Zaccardo and forces a block from Fontana. The Portuguese midfielder then heads to Adriano whose header is cleared on the line. Cruz slots over at the far post but the flag goes up.
5' Inter win another corner. Figo crosses from the right, Cambiasso's far-post header is wayward, and Maicon's follow-up from the edge of the box is over again.
4' Adriano rises to meet Cambiasso's headed pass but his effort finishes on the roof of the net.
3' Luis' second corner kick is cleared as far as Maicon, who crashes over from distance.
2' Figo crosses from the left-wing corner flag. Grosso's shot from Cambiasso's headed pass is blocked. Nothing comes of the resulting corner.
2' Cassani commits defensive suicide. Figo pounces and wins a corner for Inter after his curling shot is deflected behind.
1' Inter get the second half going. FORZA RAGAZZI!!!
Zanetti
7.13
7.13
Materazzi
6.67
6.67
Adriano
7.32
7.32
Crespo
6.14
6.14
Cruz
7.88
7.88
Stankovic
7.03
7.03
Cambiasso
6.58
6.58
Burdisso
6.2
6.2
Julio Cesar
7.23
7.23
Figo
8.72
8.72
Grosso
6.7
6.7
Maicon
6.28
6.28
Dacourt
5.84
5.84
Ibrahimovic
7.25
7.25
Average rating 6.93
8 shots on target 6
10 shots off target 3
13 fouls committed 19
10 corners 4
6 offsides 2
29:38 ball possession 26:16
Mancini v Guidolin

The two coaches meet in a competitive fixture for the eighth time after 3 Mancini victories, 3 draws (all 1-1) and just 1 Guidolin win. Mancini's teams have scored in all seven games, notching a total of 11 goals. All of the current Inter coach's home encounters with his Palermo counterpart have ended in 1-1 draws.

Details:

2000/01 Serie A Fiorentina-Bologna 1-1 ----
2001/02 Serie A Fiorentina-Bologna ---- 2-3
2002/03 Serie A Lazio-Bologna 1-1 2-0
2004/05 Serie A Inter-Palermo 1-1 2-0
2006/07 Serie A Inter-Palermo ---- 2-1

Mancini v Palermo

Mancini has won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of his 5 competitive matches against Palermo since becoming a coach. His sides have scored in each match (total 10 goals).

Details:

2004/05 Serie A Inter-Palermo 1-1 2-0
2005/06 Serie A Inter-Palermo 3-0 2-3
2006/07 Serie A Inter-Palermo ---- 2-1

Guidolin v Inter

Teams coached by Guidolin have played 21 matches against Inter. There have been 4 Guidolin victories, 4 draws (all 1-1) and 13 Nerazzurri wins. Inter 0-1 Vicenza on 3 May 1997 is the only time a side led by Guidolin has kept a clean sheet at the Meazza. His teams have conceded in the other 9 games played in Milan (total 13 goals let in).

Details:

1995/96 Serie A Vicenza-Inter 1-1 0-1
1996/97 Serie A Vicenza-Inter 1-1 1-0
1997/98 Serie A Vicenza-Inter 1-3 1-2
1998/99 Serie A Udinese-Inter 0-1 3-1
1999/00 Coppa Italia Bologna-Inter 1-3 1-2
1999/00 Serie A Bologna-Inter 3-0 1-1
2000/01 Serie A Bologna-Inter 0-3 1-2
2001/02 Serie A Bologna-Inter 2-1 0-1
2002/03 Serie A Bologna-Inter 1-2 0-2
2004/05 Serie A Palermo-Inter 0-2 1-1
2006/07 Serie A Palermo-Inter 1-2 ----

Inter close to yet another record

Inter's 2006/07 team are two victories away from equalling the club's record of 27 wins in one Serie A season, set in 1950/51. The absolute record for the Italian championship belongs to the Great Torino side, who racked up 29 victories in 1947/48, the only Italian league season to be played with 21 teams over 42 matchdays.

Inter unbeaten at San Siro in 20 games, on target in 33 matches

Inter's last home defeat in the league was a 2-1 loss to Juventus on 12 February 2006. Since that date the Nerazzurri have collected 17 wins and 3 draws from 20 Serie A matches at the Giuseppe Meazza. Inter have scored in their last 33 league fixtures at home, netting a total of 76 goals. Their last home game without scoring was the 0-0 draw with Reggina on the final day of the 2004/05 season.

Di Michele worry for Inter

Inter are Davide Di Michele's second favourite target. Of his 140 goals in competitive matches, the current Palermo striker has scored 6 against both Inter and Sampdoria. The only team he has scored more against is Lecce (7 goals).

Palermo a win away from record no. of victories in one season

Palermo's Sicilian derby victory over Catania was the Rosanero's 13th of the season. A 14th win will see Guidolin's side equal the club's record of victories in one Serie A season, set in 1948/49 and equalled in 1950/51. With 5 wins on the road in 2006/07, Palermo have already bettered their previous record of away wins in one top-tier campaign.

Best v worst attacks of 2007

The best and worst Serie A attacks of 2007 meet at the Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday evening. Inter have scored 25 goals since the start of the calendar year, while the Rosanero have notched just 9, along with Ascoli, Messina, Parma and Sampdoria.

Jimmy Fontana set for 200th Serie A appearance

Former Inter keeper Alberto 'Jimmy' Fontana is poised to play his 200th Serie A match in Sunday evening's Week 32 clash. Fontana, who has played top-flight football for Cesena, Atalanta, Napoli, Inter, ChievoVerona and Palermo, made his Serie A debut in Sampdoria 1-0 Cesena on 9 January 1990.

Palermo's nine-match winless streak

The Sicilians are without a Serie A win since 2 February 2007 when they beat Catania 2-1. They have collected 6 draws and 3 defeats since that date - the Rosanero's worst run of results in 2006/07.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(20) draws(9) defeats(0)

MILAN - The Scudetto is three points away as Inter stormed back from two goals down to hold Palermo 2-2 at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Andrea Caracciolo and Cristiano Zaccardo scored at either end of the first half, but Julio Cruz and Adriano produced second-half replies - both created by the feet of in-form Luis Figo - to leave Inter needing a victory against Roma on Wednesday to wrap up their second consecutive league title.

Mancini opted for a midfield diamond in front of a flat back four, with Crespo and Adriano spearheading the attack against a Palermo side without a win in nine games.

The visitors took the lead after just three minutes when Caracciolo slotted under Julio Cesar from six yards after latching on to Simplicio's through ball.

Guidolin's side could have been two goals up after 11 minutes but Cassani's fierce 20-yard drive smacked the underside of the crossbar.

Inter reacted with a period of mid-half possession and Palermo had Barzagli to thank for a sliding clearance to deny Crespo a tap-in from Grosso's low left-wing cross.

On the half-hour Julio Cesar made a crucial reflex save from Bresciano after Burdisso's clearance from Diana's cross.

Mancini brought on Julio Cruz for Hernan Crespo on 32 minutes after the Argentine pulled up with a suspected hamstring strain.

Palermo then had a goal ruled out when Caracciolo volleyed in from close range after a Barzagli foul on Cruz.

Inter stepped up a gear before the interval. Fontana saved at full stretch from Cruz, and Maicon headed narrowly wide, but the Sicilians stunned the Meazza in time added on when Zaccardo found the top-right corner with a slotted shot from Barzagli's short through ball.

The Nerazzurri made an aggressive start to the second half, winning three corners in as many minutes before Cruz had a close-range effort disallowed for offside.

And Inter's domination continued after Mancini introduced Stankovic for Grosso and Ibrahimovic for Dacourt.

Inter's sheer power in attack proved too much for Palermo, and a comeback became reality when Julio Cruz headed Figo's inswinging cross past Fontana on 67 minutes.

An equaliser was only a matter of time, and it came seven minutes after El Jardinero's effort. Once again Figo was the provider, crossing for Adriano to nod in his first goal since the victory at Chievo two months ago.

Figo could have capped an extraordinary performance with his first goal since the Super Cup last August, but the Portuguese midfielder's sweetly-struck diagonal shot on 84 minutes was disallowed for offside.

Inter went close again before the final whistle when Ibrahimovic was denied by Fontana after excellent work by Adriano down the right.

Inter 2-2 Palermo
(HT: 0-2)

Scorers: Caracciolo 3, Zaccardo 45+1, Cruz 67, Adriano 74.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso, 23 Materazzi, 11 Grosso (5 Stankovic 53); 7 Figo, 19 Cambiasso, 15 Dacourt (8 Ibrahimovic 63), 4 Zanetti; 10 Adriano, 18 Crespo (9 Cruz 32).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 2 Cordoba, 21 Solari, 20 Recoba.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Palermo: 12 Fontana; 2 Zaccardo, 43 Barzagli, 15 Dellafiore, 16 Cassani; 14 Guana, 30 Simplicio, 23 Bresciano, 8 Diana; 7 Cavani, 10 Caracciolo (18 Giacomazzi 71).
Subs not used: 1 Agliardi, 4 Tedesco, 5 Corini, 22 Ciaramitaro, 90 Brienza, 17 Di Michele.
Coach: Francesco Guidolin.

Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (Bologna).

Booked: Caracciolo 25, Cavani 30, Cruz 62, Giacomazzi 75.

starting lineups

Julio Cesar 12 Fontana
Maicon 13 Zaccardo
Burdisso 16 Barzagli
Materazzi 23 Dellafiore
Grosso 11 Cassani
Figo 7 Guana
Cambiasso 19 Simplicio
Dacourt 15 Bresciano
Zanetti 4 Diana
Adriano 10 Cavani
Crespo 18 Caracciolo

substitutes

Toldo 1 Agliardi
Cordoba 2 Tedesco
Stankovic 5 Corini
Solari 21 Ciaramitaro
Ibrahimovic 8 Giacomazzi
Cruz 9 Brienza
Recoba 20 Di Michele