| Inter's Champions League campaign began negatively as only Julio Cesar kept the scoreline down in their 1-0 defeat at Fenerbahce.
The Nerazzurri were without the suspended Julio Cruz, Nicolas Burdisso, Ivan Cordoba and Douglas Maicon due to the Mestalla melee in Valencia last season, while Marco Materazzi and Cristian Chivu were injured, Adriano and Cesar Aparecido not on their Champions League list. This meant that Nelson Rivas was given his first official appearance for the club in an all-new defence. There was a familiar face within the home side - never-forgotten Inter hero Roberto Carlos.
Early on there were worries down Inter's left flank, as they were struggling to contain Onder. From that same area Aurelio crossed in for Deivid and Julio Cesar had to fingertip the looping header out from under the crossbar.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has never had much fortune in this competition and he was booked after 15 minutes for a mistimed jump that kneed an Denis Bariz in the back.
Fenerbahce had penalty appeals waved away for Samuel's coming together with Mateja Kezman, but at the other end goalkeeper Volkan Demirel completely missed a corner kick and the Turkish defence cleared with some difficulty.
Wederson's left-foot drive skimmed the upright and Kezman had another penalty appeal for Samuel's challenge. Julio Cesar came out to flap away a cross from fellow Brazilian Roberto Carlos.
Lugano went into the book for a horrible tackle on Suazo that may even have deserved more after 31 minutes. Suazo was also dangerous soon after when he ran on to Ibra's through ball, but the Fenerbahce defence was prepared.
Alex's long free kick was nodded inches wide by Aurelio, while Onder and Wederson continued to try from distance.
Suazo's pace was the only real attacking option for Roberto Mancini and a marvellous Ibrahimovic assist sent him clear, but the Honduran on his Champions League debut fired straight at goalkeeper Volkan.
Roberto Carlos' defensive error nearly provided an opener for his old club, but it was Fenerbahce who opened the scoring with a spectacular goal. There were errors as the penalty area was packed when Alex dribbled past opponents, but Deivid was allowed to volley into the far top corner from seven yards.
The goalscorer was booked for repeatedly pushing out of the defensive wall on the stroke of half-time, but it was eventually deflected over from Ibrahimovic. Dejan Stankovic's corner was captured by Volkan with the last move of the half.
After the restart Mancini did not make substitutions, but he did switch the wingers so Stankovic was on the left. There was another worrying moment when Alex set up Aurelio and some desperate defending cut him off with only Julio Cesar to beat.
Inter tried to liven things up with Ibrahimovic, who hooked down the ball, skipped past a defender and had his shot deflected out for a corner off Edu's toe. From the resulting set-piece, Esteban Cambiasso's header was well cleared.
Samuel was shown a yellow card for a mistimed tackle on Kezman and from that Roberto Carlos rocket of a free kick, Julio Cesar parried it into the path of Kezman to turn over the bar.
Fenerbahce nearly made it 2-0 on 57 minutes, as Alex found space down the left flank and Roberto Carlos' strike cannoned off the upright thanks to a brilliant fingertip save.
Moments later, Aurelio was found totally unmarked from eight yards, but volleyed off target with only the 'keeper to beat.
Ibrahimovic pounced on a defensive error at the byline, but could not take full advantage of it. Luis Figo replaced Santiago Solari and his shot was deflected wide off teammate Cambiasso.
Julio Cesar was keeping Inter in the game with a truly spectacular save. Alex had a free header with a cross from the right and the Brazilian shot-stopper flew to fingertip it out from under the crossbar with extraordinary reflexes.
Luis Jimenez came on for Olivier Dacourt in a more attacking line-up with the Chilean as the Trequartista and Figo back in midfield. Crespo took over from Suazo for his greater experience.
Jimenez cut back for Stankovic just outside the area, but he hit it extremely badly to go metres wide. Javier Zanetti dribbled down the right for 20 metres, but Jimenez did not get enough power on the header.
Inter finally had a period of sustained pressure with a series of corner kicks, but struggled to make it count. Onder tackled Ibrahimovic on the edge of the area, but they still risked at the back with Senturk's looping header just off target.
Some decisive defending turned Crespo's volley over the bar from a Jimenez cross, then Stankovic's looping stoppage-time cross was too soft for Crespo, but overall the Nerazzurri did not do enough to earn a point in Turkey.
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