Debutant Pazzini stars in Inter fightback

Giampaolo Pazzini scored a brace on his debut as Inter fought back from a two-goal half-time deficit to beat Palermo 3-2 yesterday.

The win kept the champions in the title race following leaders Milan’s 2-0 win at Catania on Saturday, leaving them nine points behind but with a game in hand.

Fabrizio Miccoli and Antonio Nocerino had given the visitors a 2-0 lead at the break while Javier Pastore hit the post and had a penalty saved for the Sicilians.

But Pazzini’s double got Inter back on level terms before Samuel Eto’o smacked home the winner from the spot.

“I never imagined having a day like this, it really was a dream,” Pazzini told SkySport.

“This team isn’t satisfied, we still have the desire to win. For me it was great to play with so many great players. I really enjoyed it.”

Napoli remained four points behind table-topping Milan in second as Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani smashed a hat-trick in their 4-0 thrashing of Sampdoria.

Cavani took a pass from Ezequiel Lavezzi, turned inside his marker and rifled home on 16 minutes before netting a spot-kick just before the break after he was fouled.

Marek Hamsik made the game safe with a cross-shot three minutes after the break before Cavani notched his third on 57 minutes as Hamsik set him up.

Udinese increased the pressure on Juventus coach Luigi Del Neri as they escaped from Turin with a 2-1 victory.

Since losing their first four matches of the season, Udinese have steadily climbed the table and now sit fifth having beaten Juve and Inter in their last two games.

Claudio Marchisio gave the hosts the lead on the hour but goals from South Americans Christian Zapata and Alexis Sanchez sealed the three points for the visitors.

Juve have now lost four out of seven games since the turn of the year.

Genoa won their first game of the year, 3-1 at home to Parma.

Parma defender Gabriel Paletta gave them a hand, first by giving away a penalty in the 16th minute, which was converted by Rodrigo Palacio, and then by scoring an own goal after Hernan Crespo had brought Parma level.

Kakha Kaladze’s first goal for Genoa on the stroke of half-time sealed all three points for the Rossoblu.

Cagliari defeated bottom club Bari 2-1 in a game of early goals and missed penalties.

Alessandro Matri scored twice in the first 12 minutes, with Stefano Okaka pulling a goal back for the visitors two minutes later.

Bari were denied an equalising goal four minutes before half-time when Michael Agazzi saved Gergely Rudolf’s penalty and follow-up, before Cagliari’s Robert Acquafresca wasted a chance from the spot near the end.

Chievo took a significant step towards safety as Sergio Pellissier scored a brace in a 3-0 win at struggling Brescia.

Meanwhile, Roma’s clash at Bologna yesterday was called off after 16 minutes due to heavy snow.

The game had been at risk but the referee nonetheless decided to begin play. Just over a quarter of an hour in, though, he consulted both captains and then decided to end proceedings.

Serie A

Brescia 0
Chievo 3
Pellissier 45, 90; Mandelli 47;

HT: 0-1. Att: 5,000.

Bologna 0
Roma 0
(suspended after 16 mins due to snow)

Cagliari 2
Matri 8, 12;
Bari 1
Okaka 14;

HT: 2-1. Att: 8,000.
Missed penalties: Rudolf (B) 42; Acquafresca (C) 89.

Genoa 3
Palacio 16 pen; Paletta 44 og; Kaladze 45;
Parma 1
Crespo 32;

HT: 3-1. Att: 21,247.

Inter 3
Pazzini 57, 73; Eto’o 76 pen;
Palermo 2
Miccoli 5; Nocerino 36;

HT: 0-2. Att: 58,000.
Missed penalty: Pastore (P) 63.

Juventus 1
Marchisio 60;
Udinese 2
Zapata 67; Sanchez 85;

HT: 0-0. Att: 17,953.
Red cards: Bonucci (J) 87; Sanchez (U) 88.

Lecce 1
Corvia 11;
Cesena 1
Bogdani 90;

HT: 1-0. Att: 6,643.
Missed penalty: Budan (C) 82.

Napoli 4
Cavani 16, 45 pen, 57; Hamsik 48;
Sampdoria 0

HT: 2-0. Att: 54,000.

Next fixtures
Tomorrow: 20.45 Milan vs Lazio.
Wednesday: 20.45 Cesena vs Catania; Chievo vs Napoli; Fiorentina vs Genoa; Palermo vs Juventus; Parma vs Lecce; Roma vs Brescia; Sampdoria vs Cagliari; Udinese vs Bologna.
Thursday: 20.45 Bari vs Inter.

Top scorers
17 goals: Cavani
15 goals: Di Natale (Udinese)
13 goals: Di Vaio (Bologna), Eto’o (Inter), Ibrahimovic (Milan)

Prima Divisione ‘A’
Lumezzane 1 - Salernitana 3

Prima Divisione ‘B’
Lanciano 1 - Viareggio 2