Inter were held to a 0-0 draw against Chievo at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in their Sunday afternoon Serie A fixture.
Despite a multitude of opportunities in front of goal the hosts were forced to settle for a point against a stubborn Chievo defence, with their chances of sealing a Europa League spot slipping away.
It was the Nerazzurri who hit the ground running with an early goal ruled out, Fredy Guarin found in an offside position in the box when he looked to have set up Mauro Icardi for a tap in. The Colombian then came close to scoring himself when Rodrigo Palacio found him in space, but he dragged his shot wide of the post.
The hosts would continue to threaten Albano Bizzarri in the Chievo goal. Icardi came even closer to breaking the deadlock when his header struck the post, with his compatriot in goal completely beaten. Marcelo Brozovic was next to try his luck, but he couldn’t deceive Bizzarri despite thundering his effort in at the Argentinian’s feet.
Bizzarri was called on to make one more saves before half time: Nemanja Vidic rose highest to send the ball goal bound, but again the veteran shot-stopper wouldn’t be beaten. In the second half the hosts kept up the pressure, Palacio was left feeling disappointed after a wonderful winding run was ended by Dario Dainelli, who blocked the strikers shot in the box.
Chievo had their own chances to score. Anders Christiansen provided the first real test of the game for Samir Handanovic, who parried it away comfortably enough for a corner. Riccardo Meggiorini had his own opportunity in front of goal soon after when Handanovic spilled Paloschi’s thundering strike, but somehow Meggiorini blazed his effort over the bar.
Meggiorini was involved again soon after with a surprising effort that forced the best out of Handanovic, the Slovenian in no way prepared for such a strike out of nothing. Inter fans must have feared the worst when Paloschi found himself one-on-one with Handanovic, but once again the Inter goalkeeper wasn’t to be beaten.
Icardi very nearly broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion, when Lukas Podolski’s cross found him in the area he attempted an overhead kick, only to see it float wide of the goal. The Argentinian had one last chance when Danilo D’Ambrosio sent in a teasing cross, but Icardi missed the ball and Bizzarri collected to ensure he kept a clean sheet.
Paloschi then had a glorious chance to win the game at the death, but good goalkeeping from Handanovic denied the striker.
Roberto Mancini’s men inch closer to a Europa League berth, but time is of the essence as they can’t afford to drop points. Rolando Maran and Chievo consolidate their position safe in the knowledge that they’ve avoided relegation.
