Inter reignite title charge as Napoli stumble

Inter continued their 100 per cent record under Leonardo, beating Bologna 4-1 at the San Siro last night as title rivals Napoli slipped up in a 0-0 draw at home to Fiorentina.

After a difficult first half to the season, Inter were looking like their old selves again as they cruised to victory against their troubled opponents, leaving them perilously close to the drop zone.

Dejan Stankovic, Diego Milito and a Samuel Eto’o brace – taking his tally to 23 goals in 26 games this season – moved Inter up to fourth, for a day at least, and just eight points behind leaders Milan having played a game less.

It was a special night of celebration for Inter as captain Javier Zanetti equalled Giuseppe Bergomi’s record of 519 Serie A appearances for the club.

Henry Gimenez scored Bologna’s late consolation in a terrible week for the club who were hit with a three-point deduction for failing to pay taxes and player salaries.

It was vintage Inter from the off as Leonardo’s team romped to their fourth straight win under the Brazilian, who took over from the sacked Rafael Benitez at the end of December.

Napoli failed to capitalise on their chance to close in on Milan in a dull and frustrating stalemate.

The point keeps the southerners second in Serie A, but still three points behind Milan who have a game in hand away to Lecce tonight.

Napoli came into this game with plaudits ringing in their ears following last week’s 3-0 win over Juventus, after which coach Walter Mazzarri had said it would be difficult for them to ever play better than that.

He was not wrong as they never even got close against La Viola.

However, Mazzarri insisted he was happy with his team.

“I’m not looking at the table, we’re in competition with ourselves. We need to improve and we are improving,” he said.

“We gave our all today, we were balanced without giving away anything at the back. We’re high up in the league and all we must do is continue on this path.”

Serie A

Napoli 0
Fiorentina 0

Att: 60,000.

Inter 4
Stankovic 20; Milito 30; Eto’o 53, 72;
Bologna 1
Gimenez 77;

HT: 2-0. Att: 60,000.

Today
Cagliari vs Palermo (0-0) - 12.30
Brescia vs Parma (0-2)
Catania vs Chievo (1-2)
Cesena vs Roma (0-0)
Genoa vs Udinese (1-0)
Juventus vs Bari (0-2)
Lazio vs Sampdoria (0-2)
Lecce vs Milan (0-4) - 20.45

Next fixtures
Saturday: 18.00 Palermo vs Brescia; Parma vs Catania. 20.45 Roma vs Cagliari.
Sunday: 12.30 Udinese vs Inter. 15.00 Bari vs Napoli; Bologna vs Lazio; Chievo vs Genoa; Fiorentina vs Lecce; Sampdoria vs Juventus. 20.45 Milan vs Cesena.

Serie B

Played yesterday
AlbinoLeffe 1 - Triestina 1
Ascoli 1 - Grosseto 2
Cittadella 1 - Portogruaro 1
Empoli 2 - Frosinone 1
Novara 1 - Padova 1
Piacenza 0 - Modena2
Sassuolo 1 - Livorno 0
Varese 3 - Torino 0
Vicenza 1 - Atalanta 1

Playing tomorrow – 20.45
Crotone vs Reggina (0-0)

Played on Friday
Siena 2 - Pescara 1

Standings: Novara, Siena, Atalanta 43; Varese 38; Livorno 34; Torino 33; Reggina 32; Pescara, Vicenza 31; Padova, Empoli 29; Crotone, Modena 27; Grosseto 25; Sassuolo, Cittadella, AlbinoLeffe 24; Piacenza, Triestina 21; Ascoli 20; Frosinone, Portogruaro 19.