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Inter showed they are not Zlatan Ibrahimovic-dependent by crushing Genoa 4-1, including David Suazo's first goal for the club.
The Nerazzurri wanted a confidence and status-boosting result ahead of this weekend's big showdown with Juventus, but were without the injured Marco Materazzi, Julio Cesar, Francesco Toldo, Patrick Vieira and Dejan Stankovic. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Walter Samuel had to be careful, as they were one yellow card away from a ban. Adriano was not even on the bench, so he went home early and refused to watch from the stands.
Genoa impressed in their 0-0 with Fiorentina and hoped to celebrate on their first visit to San Siro in 12 years, but they had only ever won here four times out of 40. Inter's Curva Nord was left empty as a ban for offensive anti-Napoli banners in an earlier game.
Rubinho did well to palm away a fierce Douglas Maicon strike at the end of a mazy run after seven minutes. From the resulting corner Rubinho again tipped Hernan Crespo's header on to the post, but Ivan Cordoba pounced on the loose ball.
Genoa fought back and Pierluigi Orlandoni fingertipped a Julio Cesar Leon free kick out of the top corner. Fabiani also had a great chance, the goalkeeper rushing out to charge down the fierce shot from eight yards.
Inter were always dangerous from set plays and Rubinho tipped another Crespo header out from under the crossbar. The goalkeeper comitted a howler on Luis Figo's free kick after the restart, though, as he fumbled the ball into the path of Esteban Cambiasso.
Crespo really should have made it 3-0, but after dribbling round the goalkeeper and with the empty net at his mercy, he incredibly curled wide of the far post!
Cesar Aparecido failed to make the most of a Leon defensive error, pouncing on the backpass only to slide the finish wide of the near post. Crespo wasted another incredible opportunity set up by Cesar.
Genoa were not out of it yet and pulled a goal back when Figueroa touched on the ball for Abdoullay Konko's angled drive.
However, within 40 seconds Inter restored their two-goal advantage with David Suazo's first goal for the club. Gaetano De Rosa's woeful defensive error gifted the Honduran a clear run on goal, his weak backpass header easily intercepted.
Leon threatened to open it up again, his wonderful solo effort at the byeline and a curling finish the cracked the crossbar with Orlandoni beaten.
Suazo went on one of his trademark high-speed runs through the Genoa defence and was dragged to a halt by Rubinho. The goalkeeper was booked and Julio Cruz converted the penalty.
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