Inter.it

Minute	Text commentary
46'	Half time. Siena 1-1 Inter.
45'	One minute of added time.
44'	GOAL. From close range Kharja heads home Del Grosso's left-wing cross to bring the Tuscans on level terms. SIENA 1-1 INTER.
42'	Muntari receives from Ibrahimovic and tests Julio Cesar with a low shot from 20 yards.
38'	Siena keeper Curci saves a deflected shot from Luis Jimenez.
37'	Vergassola's lofted pass for Frick is expertly intercepted by the vigilant Ivan Cordoba.
34'	GOOOAAAAALL!!!! Maicon steals in at the near post to convert Balotelli's left-wing corner. SIENA 0-1 INTER.
33'	Muntari's cross from the left is blocked by Portanova. Corner.
30'	Another shot from Galloppa, who drags wide his left-footer from 25 yards.
29'	Galloppa volleys wide from distance.
25'	Codrea's 30-yard free kick hits the Inter wall.
21'	Vergassola sends in a dangerous outswinging cross from the right, forcing Cordoba to boot to safety.
20'	Balotelli is booked for kicking the ball away in an attempt to waste time.
15'	The corner is cleared as far as Codrea, who swings in a cross from the left. Julio Cesar fails to hold and Frick pounces but the Siena front man slices wide.
14'	Cordoba heads behind Del Grosso's high cross from the left and it's a corner to Siena.
12'	Ibrahimovic's low 25-metre free kick is wide of the left post.
12'	Free kick to us as Balotelli is brought down by Codrea just outside the box after a precise pass from Cambiasso.
10'	Jimenez wins us a left-wing corner but nothing comes of Balotelli's cross as the Bianconeri clear.
7'	Maicon overhits his right-wing cross for Balotelli and Zuniga cleans up on the opposite flank.
6'	Muntari darts down the left and unleashes a low angled shot which is saved by Curci.
1'	Welcome to the Stadio Artemio Franchi, also known as the Montepaschi Arena, for our last match of 2008.
1'	Moroccan playmaker Kharja forces a save from Julio Cesar with a volley from the left angle of our box.
1'	Siena kick off. FORZA INTER!!!
1'	Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Muntari; 11 Jimenez; 45 Balotelli, 8 Ibrahimovic.
1'	Siena: 85 Curci; 2 Zuniga, 15 Brandao, 90 Portanova, 30 Del Grosso; 8 Vergassola, 5 Codrea, 14 Galloppa; 10 Kharja; 18 Ghezzal, 7 Frick.
1'	José makes two changes to the team that beat Chievo 4-2 last Sunday, with Jimenez coming in for the suspended Stankovic and Baloltelli replacing the injured Obinna in attack.
1'	A win tonight will move us nine points clear of Juventus, who play away to Atalanta tomorrow.

Minute	Text commentary
48'	Full time. Inter beat Siena 2-1, thanks to a brace from Brazilian right-back Maicon.
48'	Curci saves Ibrahimovic's low effort from 20 yards as Inter come looking for a third.
46'	Maccarone's furiously hit free kick is wide of the right post.
45'	Three minutes of added time.
45'	Siena make a tactical substutition, bringing on Calaiò for Zuniga.
42'	Galloppa crosses into the area, Julio Cesar blocks, and Ghezzal's shot from the loose ball is deflected off Maxwell as Siena come close to an equaliser.
39'	Codrea is booked for protesting.
38'	GOOOAALLLL!!!! Maxwell diverts Cordoba's shot into the path of Maicon, who lifts the ball over Curci and over the line for his and Inter's second. SIENA 1-2 INTER.
38'	Maicon is yellow-carded for removing his shirt during his goal celebrations.
36'	Walter Samuel gets a yellow card for foul play.
36'	Quaresma bursts pass two but is stopped by Codrea after entering the box.
34'	Siena goalscorer Kharja is booked for time-wasting.
34'	Curci saves Quaresma's low shot from Maxwell's short pass.
33'	Vergassola is cautioned for protesting after a foul on Quaresma.
33'	From close range Maccarone blazes over after a cross from Siena captain Vergassola.
31'	Siena boss Marco Giampaolo brings on Maccarone for Frick.
30'	Back in our half, Vergassola's cross is cleared by Zanetti.
29'	Ibra looks for Crespo with a backheeled pass from Quaresma's cross, but Curci gets there first.
28'	José makes his third substitution. Quaresma replaces Muntari.
27'	Portanova makes a hooked clearance from Figo's right-wing cross.
26'	Siena's Colombian defender Zunigo wins the ball on the halfway line, darts forward and turns Maxwell before firing way off target.
22'	Another cross from Del Grosso, and more good defending from Cordoba who beats Ghezzal to the ball.
22'	Cordoba wins the ball off Kharja after a Del Grosso cross into our box.
18'	The Siena defence makes a headed clearance from Figo's outswinging cross from the right.
16'	Maicon fires wide from the edge of the area.
14'	Inter close to a second through Ibrahimovic, whose long-range shot bounces back off the bar.
13'	Curci tips round Muntari's shot after a flowing attack involving Maicon and Cambiasso.
12'	Ghezzal crashes high and wide from 25 metres.
10'	Mourinho makes a double change. Figo and Crespo replace Jimenez and Balotelli.
10'	Julio Cesar is quick off his line to beat Frick to Del Grosso's high cross.
7'	Galloppa delivers a cross from the left. Cordoba blocks and sweeps to safety.
5'	Codrea's low free kick is blocked by the Nerazzurri defence. Siena remain in attack and Ghezzal has a curling shot saved by Julio Cesar.
4'	Zanetti combines with Maicon and floats the ball to the back post. Muntari's shot is blocked by Zuniga.
3'	Curci narrows the angle to deny Ibrahimovic a shooting opportunity.
1'	Inter get the second half under way.

Zanetti	6.65 6.65
Cordoba	6.5 6.5
Crespo	5.65 5.65
Cambiasso	7.73 7.73
Julio Cesar	6.23 6.23
Samuel	6.78 6.78
Figo	6.37 6.37
Maicon	8.65 8.65
Maxwell	6.42 6.42
Ibrahimovic	6.71 6.71
Jimenez	5.46 5.46
Balotelli	4.8 4.8
Muntari	6.07 6.07
Quaresma	6.24 6.24
Average rating	6.45

2	shots on target	7
8	shots off target	3
10	fouls committed	10
6	corners	3
3	offsides	6
26:29	ball possession	28:42

Giampaolo v Mourinho

The two coaches meet in a competitive fixture for the first time.

Giampaolo v Inter

Siena coach Marco Giampaolo has faced Inter on one previous occasion.

Details:
2006/07 Serie A Cagliari-Inter 1-1 ----

Mourinho v Siena

Josè Mourinho faces Siena for the first time in his career.

Disciplinary info

Siena
Cautioned: Galloppa, Portanova.
Disqualified: -

Inter
Cautioned: Ibrahimovic, Maicon, Muntari, Quaresma.
Disqualified: Stankovic.

Siena: one home defeat in 16 games

Siena have lost just one of their last 16 league matches at home (Siena 0-1 Genoa on 20 April), winning 9 and drawing 6 of the other 15 games. The Tuscan Bianconeri are one of five teams yet to lose at home in the Serie A this season (4 wins and 3 draws from 7 games). The other four sides are Fiorentina, Genoa, Inter and Napoli.

Siena without goal in 251 competitive minutes

Maccarone's goal in the 19th minute of Siena 1-0 Torino on 30 November was the Bianconeri's last goal in a competitive fixture. That was 251 minutes ago (remaining 71 minutes of that match plus entire games away to Napoli and Palermo.

Inter: 7 consecutive Serie A wins, no defeat in 11 games

Since their derby defeat to AC Milan on 28 September, Inter strung together an unbeaten run of 11 Serie A matches, winning their last seven in a row. The last team to hold Inter was Fiorentina (0-0 in Florence on 29 October).

Ibra the decisive

Ibrahimovic and Juve's Amauri are the two most decisive players in the 2008/09 Serie A after 16 rounds of matches. Both players' goals have earned their teams 13 points.

A team of Nerazzurri on target

Eleven different Inter players have scored Serie A goals this season - more than any other team. In alphabetical order, they are: Adriano, Cordoba, Cruz, Ibrahimovic, Maicon, Maxwell, Muntari, Obinna, Samuel, Stankovic and Vieira.

Ibra among top three scorers in 2008

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored 18 Serie A goals this year and shares second place with Amauri. Top of the list is Alessandro Del Piero with 19 goals. With ninety minutes of football still to play before the end of 2008, the Inter striker still has a chance to overtake the Juventus striker.

DA IMPLEMENTARE

wins(6) draws(2) defeats(1)

3 February 2013	3-1	21' Emeghara, 22' Cassano, 25' Sestu, 56' Rosina(Rig)	fixture
27 November 2011	0-1	91' Castaignos	fixture
16 May 2010	0-1	60' Milito	fixture
20 December 2008	1-2	34' Maicon, 44' Kharja, 84' Maicon	fixture
13 January 2008	2-3	26' Ibrahimovic (Rig), 31' Maccarone, 46' Cambiasso, 53' Ibrahimovic, 92' Forestieri	fixture
22 April 2007	1-2	18' Materazzi, 21' Negro, 61' Materazzi (Rig)	fixture
8 January 2006	0-0		fixture
12 December 2004	2-2	36' Adriano (R), 41' Portanova, 90' Flo, 95' Vieri	fixture
14 September 2003	0-1	29' Materazzi	fixture

SIENA - Maicon scored in each half as Inter made a winning end to 2008 at the Stadio Artemio Franchi - Montepaschi Arena to become 'winter champions' with two matches to go until the second half of the Serie A season.

The Brazilian right-back netted from close range before half time, adding his second with seven minutes left to cancel out Kharja's 44th-minute equaliser and send Siena to their first defeat at home this season.

Mourinho made two changes to the team that beat Chievo 4-2 last weekend. With Stankovic out through suspension Jimenez was handed his first start of the season, while Balotelli came in for the injured Obinna.

Siena got off to a good start and Kharja forced a save from Julio Cesar with a well struck volley from the left angle of the box.

Inter soaked up a period of Bianconeri pressure and edged in front on 34 minutes when Maicon stole in at the near post to convert Balotelli's corner.

Giampaolo's men rallied and Kharja produced an equaliser on the stroke of half time, sliding home after beating Maxwell to Del Grosso's cross.

Muntari had two shots blocked by Curci and Ibrahimovic saw an effort come back off the bar as Inter upped their game after the restart.

Siena had chances of their own in the last fifteen minutes, with substitute Maccarone blazing over from close range and Ghezzal having a shot deflected off Maxwell.

In between, Inter wrapped up their eighth consecutive victory when Maxwell diverted Cordoba's shot into the path of Maicon, who lifted over the onrushing Curci to put Inter nine points clear at the top ahead of Sunday afternoon's match between second-place Juve and Atalanta in Bergamo.

Siena 1-2 Inter (HT: 1-1)

Scorers: Maicon 34, 83, Kharja 44.

Siena: 85 Curci; 2 Zuniga (11 Calaiò 90), 15 Brandao, 90 Portanova, 30 Del Grosso; 8 Vergassola, 5 Codrea, 14 Galloppa; 10 Kharja; 18 Ghezzal, 7 Frick (32 Maccarone 76).
Subs not used: 46 Manitta, 6 Barusso, 16 Moti, 21 Rossi, 23 Jarolim.
Coach: Marco Giampaolo.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Muntari (77 Quaresma 73); 11 Jimenez (7 Figo 55); 45 Balotelli (18 Crespo 55), 8 Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: 22 Orlandoni, 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu, 33 Mancini.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Referee: Andrea De Marco (Chiavari).

Booked: Balotelli 20, Vergassola 78, Kharja 79, Samuel 81, Maicon 83, Codrea 84.

starting lineups

Curci	12 Julio Cesar
Zuniga	13 Maicon
Brandao	2 Cordoba
Portanova	25 Samuel
Del Grosso	6 Maxwell
Vergassola	4 Zanetti
Codrea	19 Cambiasso
Galloppa	20 Muntari
Kharja	11 Jimenez
Ghezzal	45 Balotelli
Frick	8 Ibrahimovic

substitutes

Manitta	22 Orlandoni
Barusso	7 Figo
Calaiò	18 Crespo
Moti	23 Materazzi
Rossi	26 Chivu
Jarolim	33 Mancini
Maccarone	77 Quaresma

Final score

20 December 2008 20:30

starting lineups

substitutes