Ibrahimovic saves leaders Inter

Serie A leaders Inter needed a Zlatan Ibrahimovic equaliser to draw 1-1 at home to dogged Cagliari last night.

The Sweden striker tapped in at the far post after a superb run and cross from substitute Hernan Crespo on 77 minutes.

Forward Robert Acquafresca, on loan from Inter, had put the Sardinians ahead 12 minutes earlier and later missed an open goal.

Inter were looking for their ninth successive league win but still move seven points clear of second-placed Juventus, who host Siena this afternoon.

Third-placed Milan, a point above Genoa and Fiorentina, visit Roma tonight when David Beckham is likely to be on the bench.

Earlier, Genoa rose to fifth with a 3-0 home win over Torino in yesterday's first game since the mid-season break.

Genoa, in their second season back in the top flight, went level on 32 points with Fiorentina after the unmarked Giuseppe Biava headed in a corner on 18 minutes and Bosko Jankovic exposed more poor defending by nodding in just after the break.

The hosts, without top scorer Diego Milito, made it 3-0 with five minutes left when Thiago Motta netted another header from a corner.

Genoa won a race against time to get the game on after snow delayed the re-laying of the Marassi turf.

Torino remain one point and one place above the drop zone.