| A truly memorable goal from Marco Materazzi set Inter on their way to an historic ninth straight win - a new record for this side. The Nerazzurri equalled the all-time club record of eight consecutive Serie A victories last week and were the runaway favourites to make it nine against a Messina side that had lost its last four games and had been beaten 5-0 on aggregate in the Coppa Italia last month. Luis Figo returned from a knee injury, while Patrick Vieira and Douglas Maicon were back from bans, but the Sicilians will be without Capocannoniere Christian Rigano' until the New Year.
Messina had the first shot on goal after four minutes with ex-Inter striker Arturo Di Napoli's rather central counter-attack, then Alessandro Parisi tested Julio Cesar from distance. Marco Storari rushed off his line to close down Zlatan Ibrahimovic and clattered into the Swede's right knee. He was able to continue after treatment, but Walter Samuel limped off with a muscular problem to make way for Nicolas Andre Burdisso. Figo combined passes with Ibrahimovic and forced a fingertip save out of Storari with a curling right-foot finish. Ibrahimovic was very unlucky on 27 minutes, as his header into the ground from Figo's cross bounced up on to the crossbar with Storari beaten. Marco Materazzi had two penalty appeals for wrestling in the area with Marco Zoro, then Maxwell failed to finalise a promising team move inspired by Alvaro Recoba. However, Messina really should've taken the lead on 33 minutes. Maxwell rather foolishly tried a backheel inside his own penalty area with Zoro right behind him and was relieved to see Sergio Floccari turn the finish inches past the near post. Storari got down well to block Javier Zanetti's shot and Materazzi bravely charged down Ogasawara's powerful strike with a delicate area of his body. One of Recoba's trademark left-footed free kicks stung Storari's palms. Il Chino was very lively and smashed a half-volley inches over the top corner. Messina Coach Bruno Giordano refused to give the ball back to Materazzi for a throw-in near his bench and the two got into a bickering match, earning the defender a booking and the tactician a red card. There was further tension, as Vieira fell under a nudge from Parisi off the ball and the ex-Arsenal and Juventus man was caught on camera apparently kicking out in reaction at his ankle. There could be video evidence punishment on the way for the Frenchman. Storari pushed a Recoba free kick round the post as it bounced dangerously in front of the goalkeeper. From the resulting corner, Materazzi scored an absolutely stunning goal that will go down as the best of his career! The defender had his back to goal to perform a perfect overhead bicycle-kick from Ibrahimovic's header. The Messina goalkeeper parried a Javier Zanetti attempt, but could do nothing on Ibrahimovic's goal soon after. The Swede ran on to Maicon's through ball and the angled drive slotted into the far corner. Adriano replaced Recoba and Lavecchia came on for Ogasawara, but it was the Messina substitute who made an immediate impact, his left-foot angled drive thumping the upright within seconds of stepping on to the pitch. Vieira limped off with a right thigh injury and his replacement Dejan Stankovic smashed the base of the upright with a fierce right-foot strike. Storari did well to pluck Adriano's looping header out of the top corner. Julio Cesar had to prod Mark Iuliano's shot round the upright, but at this stage there was only one team in it. | 
