Inter defeated Genoa 2-0 in their Serie A opener at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday night.
Yuto Nagatomo’s header late in the second half almost guaranteed three points for the Nerazzurri but Rodrigo Palacio added another one in added time to clinch the win.
Inter created the first decent opportunity of the match through Andrea Ranocchia, who flashed a header just wide of the far post off a corner.
Jonathan came close to grabbing the lead for the home side with a shot from the right side of the box, but it rolled just past the left post.
Newly acquired Genoa midfielder Francesco Lodi mustered his first effort in a Grifone shirt from distance, which hardly troubled Samir Handanovic in goal.
At the start of the second half, 20-year-old Mauro Icardi came on as a substitute and nearly scored with his first touch, but it ended up right into Mattia Perin’s hands.
Fredy Guarin and Andrea Bertolacci exchanged chances at around the hour mark, both were thwarted by Perin and Handanovic respectively.
Icardi once again popped up and managed to get on the end of a through ball, but Sime Vrsaljko made a brilliant tackle to keep the Argentine at bay.
In the 72nd minute, Hugo Campagnaro appeared to have intentionally passed the ball into the arms of Handanovic after battling with Alberto Gilardino, but replays showed that the touch was inadvertently knocked into the Slovenian shot-stopper’s hands.
Just a few moments later, the Nerazzurri finally grabbed a goal. Off a Jonathan cross, Nagatomo got on the end of the ball and capitalized on some stagnant Genoa defending to give the hosts the lead. It was the Japanese international’s first goal since late 2011.
Inter almost doubled their advantage off a corner when Icardi’s header was foiled by the crossbar. Ranocchia had a similar effort off another set piece, but was stopped by Perin.
Palacio added the insurance goal late in added time against his former team from a Guarin through ball off a counter attack.
