Inter - 0, Genoa - 0
Serie A leaders Inter were held to a goalless draw by Genoa tonight at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium.
The Nerazzurri went into the game knowing that a win would see them climb six points clear of second-placed Milan after the Rossoneri were held to a 0-0 draw by Roma on Saturday.
However, Inter could not find their way past a resilient Genoa side and despite a strong finish, the hosts had to settle for a point.
Despite the result, Inter hold a four-point cushion over Milan at the top of the standings with opponents Genoa ninth.
Inter coach Jose Mourinho watched the game from the stands as he served his second of a three-match touchline ban.
Mourinho fielded Mario Balotelli, Wesley Sneijder, Goran Pandev in support of former Genoa forward Diego Milito.
Europa League-chasing Genoa went into the match still reeling from last weekend's 4-3 defeat to Bologna, who snatched the points with a late penalty strike from Adailton.
And they seemed intent on making amends against Inter with Domenico Criscito's early strike forcing Nerazzurro goalkeeper Julio Cesar to make his first save.
Genoa carved out another opening in the 16th minute with Giandomenico Mesto's right-footed drive from the edge of the area testing Julio Cesar.
Inter tried to respond to the early pressure with a shot of their own which Sulley Muntari fired wide.
On the half-hour mark, Alberto Zapater tried his luck with a shot from distance which went wide of the far post before Dejan Stankovic gave Inter fans some hope with a 20-yard strike which was met by a fine save from Genoa goalkeeper Marco Amelia.
On the stroke of half-time, Balotelli played a slick one-two with Sneijder but the Italian forward fired way off target.
Inter picked up where they left off and Milito missed a good chance six minutes after the re-start when he got behind Stankovic's pass in the visitors' area but dragged his effort wide.
At the other end, Zapater fed Sokratis Papastathopoulos and his strike went over the bar.
In the 63rd minute, Milito's dangerous low cross towards the area failed to find a team-mate.
Milito had another chance with a strike which went high from Maicon's pass.
On 72 minutes, Sneijder came close to breaking the deadlock but his curled free-kick went wide of the near post.
Shortly afterwards, Maicon's 18-yard strike went inches wide of the far post as Inter got closer.
The hosts continued to test Genoa's back-line with more chances. Substitute Samuel Eto'o first drilled a 20-yard strike which was met by a fine save from Amelia before Sneijder fired wide from the edge of the area.
And as the clock ticked down, Mourinho's men made one final push to steal the points.
However, Genoa defended deeply and Salvatore Bocchetti did well to intercept Eto'o's cross with an unmarked Milito waiting in the area.
With one minute remaining, Balotelli went down inside the visitors' area after a contact with Papastathopoulos but the referee played on as Genoa survived the pressure and held on for a valuable point.