Final score

26 April 2009 20:30

Napoli
28' (2nd half) Zalayeta
Inter
Referee: Roberto Rosetti / Linesmen: Ghiandai, Giordano / Fourth official: Baracani
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Minute Text commentary
46' Half time. Napoli 0-0 Inter.
46' Hamisk collects Montervino's cross from the right and volleys way over from a promising position.
45' One minute of injury time to play before break.
43' Figo loses his marker for dead on the left with a couple of stepovers and delivers a cross from the byline. Mannini makes a headed clearance.
41' Lavezzi overhits his pass for Hamsik as Napoli come back at Inter on the counter-attack.
40' Balotelli's free kick is headed clear. Inter remain in attack and Mario gets another cross in but Santacroce beats Stankovic to the ball.
39' Mannini trips Balotelli on the right wing. Free kick.
37' Back at the other end, Lavezzi makes a darting run and creates space for a shot but the Argentine blasts his effort way over the bar.
35' Cordoba climbs at the far post and connects with Figo's left-wing corner but Rosetti blows for a foul by the Colombian.
34' Balotelli's right-wing cross is deflected off Santacroce. Corner.
33' Inter come forward on the break and Mario Balotelli tests Navarro with a well taken long-range shot.
33' Napoli win another free kick. Once again, Lavezzi's curling free kick is too high.
32' Denis races on to a through ball but Samuel makes a perfectly timed intervention and passes coolly back to Julio Cesar.
30' Ezequiel Lavezzi's 20-yard free kick is over the five-man wall and over e crossbar.
29' Samuel handles the ball just outside our area. Free kick to Napoli.
25' Figo's cross from the corner flag is headed clear but the Nerazzurri keep the Napoli defence busy.
24' Another long-range free kick for Inter. Balotelli's cross is headed behind for a left-wing corner by Aronica.
22' Free kick to Inter about 40 metres from goal. Denis blocks Balotelli's cross. Hamsik boots to safety.
20' Lavezzi's right-wing cross is headed behind by Zanetti. Vieira is first to Hamsik's cross from the resulting corner.
19' Uruguayan midfielder Nicolas Amodio is booked for a tactical foul on Luis Figo.
17' Ibrahimovic gets on the end of Stankovic's pass and unleashes a swerving volley. It's over the bar.
15' Balotelli goes for goal with a crisp strike from 20 yards. His effort finishes on the roof of the net.
15' Lavezzi overhits his pass into the box for Denis as Napoli launch a counter-attack.
14' Lavezzi's curling free kick has too much height on it. Easy save for Julio Cesar.
13' Vieira is booked for a foul from behind on Mannini.
12' Vieira floats a ball into the box for Balotelli, who goes down under a challenge from Santacroce. Rosetti awards a free kick to Napoli.
10' Hisses and boos rings round the San Paolo as the Nerazzurri hit back at Donadoni's men. Napoli regroup well, forcing Inter to backtrack.
9' Denis swivels on to a ball in the box and tries to shoot but Samuel closes down the Napoli number nine.
9' Samuel concedes a right-wing corner. Lavezzi's cross from the flag is headed clear by Zanetti.
8' Blasi tries to mount a counter-attack but is brought to an abrupt halt by Cristian Chivu on the halfway line. Free kick to the home team for a tactical foul by the Romanian.
6' Montervino serves Lavezzi down the right but Samuel charges into his compatriot, makes the tackle and concedes an attacking throw.
4' Ibrahimovic serves Balotelli who, with his back to goal, plays into the path of Stankovic. The Serbian's volley is blocked.
3' Napoli fail to clear the resulting corner and Figo's whipped cross from the right is caught by Navarro.
2' Inter close through Walter Samuel, whose flicked header from Balotelli's curling free kick forces a tipped save from Navarro.
2' Chivu clears with a scissor kick as Inter set up a counter-attack after a Napoli free kick awarded for a foul on Mannini.
1' Welcome to the splendid Stadio San Paolo in Naples for tonight's Serie A Week 33 clash between Napoli and Inter.
1' Away we go at the San Paolo as Inter kick off. FORZA NERAZZURRI!
1' Roberto Rosetti and his assistants lead the teams out on to the pitch. We're minutes away from kick-off.
1' We have a near full house here in Naples as the players make their way back to the tunnel after the pre-match warm-up.
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu; 14 Vieira, 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic; 7 Figo, 45 Balotelli, 8 Ibrahimovic.<br> Subs: 1 Toldo, 6 Maxwell, 9 Cruz, 16 Burdisso, 23 Materazzi, 33 Mancini, 39 Santon.
1' Napoli: 30 Navarro; 13 Santacroce, 96 Contini, 6 Aronica; 4 Montervino, 32 Amodio, 8 Blasi, 17 Hamisik, 77 Mannini; 7 Lavezzi, 9 Denis.<br> Subs: 70 Bucci, 2 Grava, 5 Pazienza, 15 Datolo, 18 Bogliacino, 20 Russotto, 25 Zalayeta.
1' Napoli are still chasing their first win under ex-Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, while Inter are unbeaten in 13 Serie A matches.
1' Inter go into tonight's clash with a seven-point lead over AC Milan, who leapfrogged Juventus into second place with their 3-0 home win over Palermo earlier today. The Bianconeri were held 2-2 by Reggina at the Granillo.
Minute Text commentary
49' Full time. Napoli beat Inter 1-0 and earn their first victory under Roberto Donadoni. Inter's lead at the top of the Serie A table is cut to seven points.
48' Rosetti blows for a foul by Cruz in the Napoli area after a long throw by Mancini.
45' Four minutes of added time to play.
45' Zalayeta's looping header from Datolo's corner is off target.
44' Datolo's free kick is deflected off the wall and out for a corner.
44' Napoli make their final change. Bogliacino comes on for Amodio.
43' Stankovic is booked by Roberto Rosetti.
43' Free kick to Napoli just outside our box after a foul by Cordoba on Datolo.
41' Julio Cesar blocks Blasi's deflected 20-yard strike as Napoli come surging forward in search of a second goal.
40' Cruz goes through on goal but the flag goes up for offside.
39' Balotelli is booked after an off-the-ball shove on Blasi.
39' Donadoni brings on Datolo for Lavezzi.
38' Julio Cruz is booked for a foul on Aronica.
37' Hamsik's cross from the corner flag is headed clear by Balotelli.
37' Cordoba beats Zalayeta to a through ball and concedes a corner.
36' Substitution number three for Inter. Maxwell replaces Chivu.
36' The San Paolo breathes a sigh of relief as Navarro catches Mario Balotelli's right-wing corner.
33' Balotelli's long-range free kick is headed clear by goalscorer Zalayeta.
30' Mourinho brings on Julio Cruz for Patrick Vieira.
28' Zalayeta scored the winner in last season's meeting between these two teams in Naples.
28' GOAL. Lavezzi takes on two and passes square to Marcelo Zalayeta who beats Julio Cesar with a first-time shot from the edge of the box. NAPOLI 1-0 INTER.
28' Mancini wins the ball off Blasi and gets to the edge of the box but loses control as he looks for a way past two opponents.
25' Inter bring on Mancini for Figo.
23' Balotelli gets on the end of Figo's cross from the resulting corner but Napoli clear.
23' Inter win a free kick after a foul by Contini on Balotelli. Ibrahimovic's thunderbolt shot is on target, forcing Navarro into a block at his right-hand post.
20' Zalayeta's weak header from Hamsik's cross is easily saved by Julio Cesar.
18' Mannini has a cross-shot saved by Julio Cesar as Napoli find an opening down the left.
18' Napoli make their first change. Denis is replaced by Zalayeta.
17' Hamsik's left-wing corner is headed clear by Balotelli.
16' Back in our half, Napoli captain Montervino sees a shot deflected out for a corner.
15' Vieira has a placed shot from 20 yards saved by Navarro.
15' Ibra looks for Stankovic with a poked pass into the Napoli box but Contini intercepts.
13' Great defending by Cordoba. Blasi floats in for Denis who has his back to goal. Ivan is right on the Argentine and he makes a strong tackle.
10' Figo tries a one-two with Balotelli but the Italian hasn't read the move and Napoli regain possession.
9' Stankovic makes a headed clearance from Montervino's right-wing cross to end a well worked move by the Neapolitans.
6' Ivan Cordoba makes a hooked clearance from a left-wing cross. Moments later Hamsik gets a cross in but there's no team-mate on hand in our box.
3' Inter look for openings after a long build-up in the Napoli half but the Azzurri win the ball back and mount a counter-attack.
1' Napoli get the second half under way.
Zanetti
5.65
5.65
Cordoba
5.01
5.01
Cruz
3.81
3.81
Stankovic
5.2
5.2
Cambiasso
5.46
5.46
Julio Cesar
6.66
6.66
Samuel
5.61
5.61
Figo
5.04
5.04
Maxwell
4.48
4.48
Vieira
3.65
3.65
Ibrahimovic
3.98
3.98
Chivu
5.11
5.11
Balotelli
5.91
5.91
Mancini
3.74
3.74
Average rating 4.95
2 shots on target 4
5 shots off target 2
18 fouls committed 25
7 corners 6
3 offsides 2
22:09 ball possession 23:51
Donadoni v Mourinho

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

Donadoni v Inter

Roberto Donadoni has never won against Inter in his coaching career, with two defeats from as many games.

Details:
2004/05 Serie A Livorno-Inter ---- 0-1
2005/06 Serie A Livorno-Inter ---- 0-5

Mourinho v Napoli

Inter's home win over the Azzurri in the first half of the season is the only previous meeting between Mourinho and Napoli.

Details:
2008/09 Serie A Inter-Napoli 2-1 ----

Donadoni worse than Reja

Roberto Donadoni has a worse record than his predecessor Reja with 4 draws and a defeat from 5 matches (a points per match average of 0.8). Reja, with 10 victories, 5 draws and 12 defeats in 27 games, had a points per match average of 1.3.

No Napoli win in 14 games

The Azzurri are without a Serie A win since their 1-0 home victory over Catania on 11 January 2009. Since that date, Napoli have drawn 6 and lost 8 in the league. Including their 0-0 Coppa Italia draw with Juventus, Napoli have gone 15 matches without winning.

Pià set for 200th match in Italian football

If he plays against Inter in Week 33, Napoli's Joao Batista Inacio Pià will complete a double century of matches in Italian football. The Brazilian, who has played for Atalanta, Ascoli, Napoli, Treviso and Catania in Italy, made his debut in Atalanta 3-0 Pistoiese in the Coppa Italia on 15 September 1999. Pià has played 51 times in Serie A, 73 in Serie B, 41 in Serie C1, 22 in Coppa Italia, 5 in European competitions and 7 in other tournaments.

Napoli, Inter's contrasting scoring form

Napoli, along with Reggina, are one of the two teams in the 2008/09 Serie A to have scored with the fewest number of players. Eight players from both teams have hit the target this season. Napoli's scorers are Denis, Hamsik, Lavezzi, Maggio, Mannini, Pazienza, Vitale and Zalayeta. In contrast, Inter are one of three teams with 16 different scorers, the other two being Juventus and Roma. Inter's top-flight scorers this season are Adriano, Balotelli, Burdisso, Cambiasso, Cordoba, Crespo, Cruz, Figo, Ibrahimovic, Maicon, Maxwell, Muntari, Obinna, Samuel, Stankovic, Vieira. The above statistic excludes Quaresma, who is currently on loan at Chelsea.

Inter on target in 23 consecutive league fixtures, unbeaten in 13

The Nerazzurri have scored in each of their last 23 Serie A matches, scoring a total of 45 goals. Their last top-flight fixture without scoring was last October's 0-0 draw with Fiorentina in Florence. Inter's last defeat in the Italian top flight was their 3-1 loss at Atalanta on 18 January 2009. They have played 13 games since that date, winning 9 and drawing 4.

Super Ibra

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the most decisive player after 32 rounds of 2008/09 Serie A matches. His goals have earned Inter 24 of their 74 points. With 20 Serie A goals so far this season, the Swede has bettered his previous record of 19 goals in one league season: 19 in 2004/05 (3 for Ajax and 16 for Juventus. Ibrahimovic's previous personal best in one league season was 17 goals with Inter in 2007/08. With 10 goals to his name since the turn of the new year, Zlatan is Serie A's leading scorer in 2009.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(20) draws(22) defeats(39)
3 December 2023 0-3 44' Calhanoglu, 65' Barella, 88' Thuram, fixture
21 May 2023 3-1 68' Anguissa, 83' Lukaku, 86' Lorenzo, 95' Gaetano, fixture
12 February 2022 1-1 7' Insigne(Rig), 49' Dzeko, fixture
18 April 2021 1-1 36' Handanovic(Aut), 56' Eriksen, fixture
6 January 2020 1-3 14' Lukaku, 33' Lukaku, 39' Milik, 63' Martínez, fixture
19 May 2019 4-1 16' Zielinski, 62' Mertens, 72' Ruiz, 80' Ruiz, 82' Icardi(Rig), fixture
21 October 2017 0-0 fixture
2 December 2016 3-0 2' Zielinski, 6' Hamsik, 53' Insigne fixture
30 November 2015 2-1 2' Higuain, 64' Higuain, 69' Ljajic, fixture
8 March 2015 2-2 52' Hamsik, 64' Higuain, 73' Palacio, 88' Icardi(Rig), fixture
15 December 2013 4-2 9' Higuain, 35' Cambiasso, 39' Mertens, 41' Dzemaili, 46' Nagatomo, 83' Callejon fixture
5 May 2013 3-1 3' Cavani, 23' Alvarez(Rig), 34' Cavani(Rig), 78' Cavani fixture
26 February 2012 1-0 59' Lavezzi fixture
15 May 2011 1-1 15' Eto'o , 46' Zuniga fixture
14 February 2010 0-0 fixture
26 April 2009 1-0 74' Zalayeta fixture
2 March 2008 1-0 3' Zalayeta fixture
18 February 2001 1-0 54' Matuzalem fixture
18 October 1997 0-2 10' Galante, 69' Aut. Turrini fixture
12 January 1997 1-2 43' Branca, 88' Djorkaeff, 90' Caccia
24 September 1995 2-1 33' Imbriani, 46' Fontolan Ii, 66' Buso.
7 May 1995 1-3 11' Orlandini P., 33' Cruz, 65' Berti N., 84' Bergkamp
3 October 1993 0-0
20 September 1992 1-2 54' Sammer, 57' Schillaci, 84' Fonseca
15 March 1992 1-1 13' Zola, 52' Desideri
30 March 1991 1-1 70' Matthaus, 71' Careca
22 October 1989 2-0 75' Careca, 84' Maradona
15 January 1989 0-0
10 April 1988 1-0 21' Maradona
2 November 1986 0-0
16 March 1986 1-0 71' Rig. Maradona
21 April 1985 3-1 18' Bertoni, 39' Baresi, 50' Dal Fiume, 63' Bertoni
19 February 1984 0-2 17' Beccalossi, 55' Aut. Ferrario
27 February 1983 1-1 10' Altobelli, 87' Dal Fiume
13 December 1981 2-0 33' Musella, 39' Pellegrini
1 March 1981 1-0 14' Guidetti
10 February 1980 3-4 19' Muraro, 22' Aut. Pasinato, 32' Muraro, 35' Improta, 57' Altobelli, 71' Baresi, 81' Guidetti
11 March 1979 0-0
12 February 1978 2-2 21' Chiarugi, 26' Oriali, 62' Muraro, 83' Aut. Facchetti
16 April 1977 0-3 11' Pavone, 22' Pavone, 48' Fedele
11 April 1976 3-1 5' Pogliana, 15' Rig. Savoldi, 16' Aut. Esposito, 20' Massa
27 April 1975 3-2 18' Clerici, 57' Clerici, 63' Mariani, 67' Braglia, 74' Boninsegna
17 February 1974 2-1 5' Clerici, 61' Mazzola, 68' Bruscolotti
11 March 1973 2-0 44' Esposito, 82' Fontana
14 November 1971 0-0
22 November 1970 2-1 50' Da Costa, 70' Pogliana, 75' Ghio
21 December 1969 0-0
9 February 1969 3-1 40' Canè, 43' Montefusco, 49' Canè, 62' Bertini
7 January 1968 2-1 6' Altafini, 33' Cappellini, 43' Bianchi
8 January 1967 0-0
22 May 1966 3-1 54' Altafini, 55' Juliano, 81' Panzanato (Aut), 82' Altafini
17 February 1963 1-5 6' Di Giacomo, 9' Di Giacomo, 48' Suarez, 55' Corso, 59' Di Giacomo, 63' Fraschini
22 January 1961 0-0
31 January 1960 1-1 7' Corso, 82' Di Giacomo
24 May 1959 1-0 76' Del Vecchio
18 May 1958 1-0 12' Betello
30 September 1956 1-1 29' Ciccarelli, 31' Massei
22 January 1956 0-2 51' Massei, 87' Lorenzi
26 December 1954 1-2 10' Posio, 39' Armano, 75' Skoglund
18 April 1954 2-1 12' Ciccarelli, 16' Armano, 80' Ciccarelli
15 February 1953 0-1 27' Lorenzi
14 October 1951 1-0 14' Granata
18 February 1951 0-4 50' Nyers, 77' Wilkes, 87' Nyers, 89' Nyers
25 January 1948 3-0 23' Krieziu, 31' La Paz, 84' Ganelli
1 June 1947 1-0 4' Rosi
7 July 1946 0-0
3 May 1942 0-1 89' Rig. Campatelli
16 March 1941 0-1 42' Rig. Demaria
4 February 1940 0-1 78' Guarnieri
11 December 1938 1-0 49' Venditto
27 February 1938 1-1 72' Meazza, 75' Rig. Buscaglia
27 December 1936 2-1 19' Ferrara II, 20' Ferrari, 32' Rig. Buscaglia
1 December 1935 3-2 9' De Vincenzi, 52' Rossetti, 74' De Vincenzi, 75' Buscaglia, 78' Aut. Ballerio
13 January 1935 0-1 57' Meazza
28 January 1934 2-1 1' Vojak, 69' Vojak, 77' Viani II (AM)
5 February 1933 3-0 23' Ranelli, 35' Vojak, 44' Vojak
28 February 1932 1-0 22' Sallustro
24 May 1931 0-2 tav
29 May 1930 3-1 44' Perani, 58' Sallustro I, 72' Serantoni, 89' Sallustro I
9 June 1929 4-1 3’ e 5’ Sallustro, 17’ Buscaglia, 27’ Gariglio, 60’ Serantoni
3 October 1926 0-3 2 Powolny, Bernardini

NAPLES - History repeated itself at the Stadio San Paolo as Marcelo Zalayeta came off the bench to give Napoli a 1-0 victory over Inter.

The Uruguayan, who netted the winner in the same fixture last season, scored ten minutes after replacing Denis to send the Nerazzurri to their third defeat of the Serie A season and cut their lead at the top to seven points.

José Mourinho made one change to the team that drew with Juventus last weekend, with Vieira coming in for the injured Muntari in his three-man midfield.

Napoli boss Roberto Donadoni, still chasing his first win in charge of the club, brought in Aronica for the disqualified Cannavaro at the back and Denis for Zalayeta up front as he made a series of switches to the team that lost to Cagliari in the previous round. 

Inter had the better chances of an evenly-balanced first half, with Samuel forcing a tipped save from Navarro with a flicked header from Balotelli's left-wing free kick in the second minute.

Balotelli went close in the 15th, his crisp long-range strike finishing on the roof of the net, and Ibrahimovic narrowly missed what would have been a candidate for goal of the season with a brilliant swerving volley from Stankovic's pass.

A couple of Lavezzi free kicks later, Balotelli tested Navarro with effort from distance, and with half time looming Hamsik collected a Montervino cross from the right and blasted wide when scoring would have been easier. 

Both teams made a cautious start to the second half, the first clear chance falling to Vieira in the 60th minute when his 20-yard shot was saved by Navarro.

Mannini had a cross-shot saved by Julio Cesar as Napoli found space down the left in a spate of end-to-end football, before Ibrahimovic went close with a fiercely struck free kick. 

Napoli broke the deadlock with 17 minutes remaining when Lavezzi sidestepped two opponents and played square to Zalayeta who took Julio Cesar by surprise with his first-time shot.

The Inter keeper redeemed himself with a reflex save from Blasi's deflected shot as Napoli created chances to increase their lead in the final minutes.

Napoli 1-0 Inter (HT: 0-0)

Scorer: Zalayeta 73.

Napoli: 30 Navarro; 13 Santacroce, 96 Contini, 6 Aronica; 4 Montervino, 32 Amodio (18 Bogliacino 89), 8 Blasi, 17 Hamisik, 77 Mannini; 7 Lavezzi (15 Datolo 84), 9 Denis (25 Zalayeta 63).
Subs not used: 70 Bucci, 2 Grava, 5 Pazienza, 20 Russotto.
Coach: Roberto Donadoni.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 4 Zanetti, 2 Cordoba, 25 Samuel, 26 Chivu (6 Maxwell 81); 14 Vieira (9 Cruz 75), 19 Cambiasso, 5 Stankovic; 7 Figo (33 Mancini 70), 45 Balotelli, 8 Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 16 Burdisso, 23 Materazzi, 39 Santon.
Coach: José Mourinho.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Turin).

Booked: Vieira 13, Amodio 19, Cruz 83, Balotelli 84, Stankovic 88.

starting lineups

Navarro 12 Julio Cesar
Santacroce 4 Zanetti
Contini 2 Cordoba
Aronica 25 Samuel
Montervino 26 Chivu
Amodio 14 Vieira
Blasi 19 Cambiasso
Hamsik 5 Stankovic
Mannini 7 Figo
Lavezzi 45 Balotelli
Denis 8 Ibrahimovic

substitutes

Bucci 1 Toldo
Grava 23 Materazzi
Pazienza 16 Burdisso
Datolo 39 Santon
Bogliacino 33 Mancini
Russotto 9 Cruz
Zalayeta 6 Maxwell