Andrea Stamaccioni became the longest-running coach at the helm of Inter in the post-Jose Mourinho era last night but the former youth coach had little to cheer about as his side were beaten 1-0 by Lazio at the Olympic Stadium.

Having played most of the first half in attack, Lazio were feeling the strains of their efforts after the changeover and were lucky not to fall behind until veteran striker Miroslav Klose scored the match-winning goal.

Lazio join Napoli in third place in the standings with second-placed Inter four points behind leaders Juve who play Atalanta at home today.

Lazio held territorial edge for most of the first half. However, their efforts to find a way past a well-knit Inter defence proved futile as the hosts were limited to shots from the distance with visitors’ goalkeeper Samir Handanovic rarely, if ever, tested.

The second half saw a different Inter as they came out of their defensive shell and with Rodrigo Palacio in the team they started attacking Lazio.

Midway through the half Inter almost took the lead when a Freddy Guarin grounder beat goalkeeper Federico Marchetti but the ball came off the upright.

Inter were again denied by the woodwork when an Antonio Cassano shot was touched against the post by Marchetti who was on the right spot to keep out Yuto Nagatomo’s follow-on shot.

Klose had two good chances to beat Handanovic but missed on both occasions. However, he was on target eight minutes from time when he blasted the ball home from the edge of the Inter box.

Stramaccioni took over from Claudio Ranieri last season after the latter’s 35th match at the helm of the Nerazzurri. Before, Brazilian Leonardo lasted 32 matches and Rafael Benitez 25.

In yesterday’s other match, Antonio Di Natale struck an 89th-minute equaliser to hand 10-man Udinese an unlikely share of the points in a dramatic 1-1 draw at home to Palermo.

Palermo held a 1-0 half-time lead at the Stadio Friuli after Josip Ilicic’s superb 33rd minute strike, which impressive goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic simply could not stop hitting the back of the net.

Although Udinese were creating chances, the Sicilians continued to dominate in the second half and were given a helping hand when Thomas Heurtaux was shown a red card for a rash challenge on the hour mark.

However, Brkic’s heroics would make the difference in the end for Udinese, who transformed an unlikely goalscoring chance into the equaliser at the death.

Samir Ujkani had little to do in the second half but after blocking an innocuous header from Luis Muriel on the edge of the box the Palermo ‘keeper dropped the ball in front of goal after being impeded by one of his own defenders.

It fell into the path of Di Natale, who took one touch before smashing it home for the equaliser.

Serie A

Udinese 1
Di Natale 89;
Palermo 1
Ilicic 33;

HT: 0-1. Att: 12,000.
Red card: Heurtaux (U) 61.

Lazio 1
Klose 82;
Inter 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 45,500.

Standings

Playing today – 15.00
Fiorentina vs Siena - 12.30
Catania vs Sampdoria    
Chievo vs Roma    
Genoa vs Torino    
Juventus vs Atalanta    
Milan vs Pescara    
Napoli vs Bologna - 20.45
Parma vs Cagliari    

Next fixtures
Friday: 18.00 Pescara vs Catania; 20.45 Cagliari vs Juventus.
Saturday: 12.30 Inter vs Genoa. 15.00 Atalanta vs Udinese; Bologna vs Parma; Palermo vs Fiorentina; Sampdoria vs Lazio; Siena vs Napoli; Torino vs Chievo. 20.45 Roma vs Milan.

Serie B
Bari 1 - Novara 3
Empoli 2 - Vicenza 0
Juve Stabia 2 - Cesena 2
Lanciano 1 - Spezia 1
Modena 3 - Crotone 0
Padova 1 - Sassuolo 3
Pro Vercelli 0 - Verona 0
Varese 3 - Grosseto 0 (suspended 82nd minute – fog)

Tomorrow
Reggina vs Cittadella - 19.00
Ascoli vs Brescia - 21.00

Standings: Sassuolo 45; Livorno 42; Verona 36; Varese 29; Empoli, Modena 28; Brescia 27; Juve Stabia, Padova 26; Cittadella, Spezia 25; Ternana 21; Bari, Crotone 19; Ascoli, Vicenza 18; Cesena 17; Novara, Reggina, Lanciano 16; Pro Vercelli 15; Grosseto 11.