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Julio Cruz bagged a brace to defeat Napoli 2-1, but Roberto Sosa gave Serie A leaders Inter a scare late on.
Just four points separated these two teams going into the match - their first meeting here since 2000. The Nerazzurri were flying high after their 4-1 win at Roma and 2-0 Champions League victory against PSV Eindhoven, although Douglas Maicon was suspended. The rivalry between the clubs meant this was a high risk game, so tickets were only sold in the city of Milan. Regardless, there were at least 3,000 Napoli fans at San Siro.
After 140 seconds Zlatan Ibrahimovic had his first attempt over the bar, then Ivan Cordoba charged down a Marek Hamsik attempt and Cristian Chivu got away with a clumsy challenge on Grava.
On 13 minutes Napoli had a good chance as Ezequiel Lavezzi threaded through for Marcelo Zalayeta, but he was unable to shrug off Chivu in the area. Julio Cruz was flagged offside - perhaps incorrectly - when clear on goal.
The celebration was only postponed by a few seconds, as Ibrahimovic drew four defenders to him and nutmegged Paolo Cannavaro for the totally unmarked Cruz to side-foot home from seven yards.
Julio Cesar smothered a Hamsik strike, but Ibrahimovic hit the side-netting as he came sliding on to Luis Figo's cross. Ibra's inspired pass set Cruz free and Gennaro Iezzo blocked the shot.
Lavezzi was Napoli's most dangerous figure and constantly dribbled past the Inter defenders, bringing a save out of Julio Cesar from the by-line.
But there was no stopping Cruz, as he sprung the offside trap on a long ball forward from the centre circle, chested down and smashed a left-foot finish into the far corner from just inside the box.
Some fancy Lavezzi footwork forced Dejan Stankovic into a booking, then Hamsik hit the bar, but the whistle had gone for a push on Cesar Aparecido. Yet Cruz should have completed his hat-trick on 39 minutes when he again was sent clear by Figo, but he side-footed inches past the base of the far post.
Ibrahimovic broke through the defence this time and Iezzo performed a stunning one-handed save to push the powerful strike out from under the crossbar.
Maxwell replaced Chivu at half-time. Lavezzi set up Mariano Bogliacino only for a weak chip that failed to trouble the goalkeeper. Julio Cesar had more work to do to punch a cross off the head of Zalayeta, but Ibrahimovic went on one of his solo runs and drilled just off target.
Maurizio Domizzi threatened with a free kick from 33 metres that whistled past the woodwork, while Samuel needed a last-ditch tackle inside the area to stop Bogliacino driving home Lavezzi's assist.
David Suazo replaced Cruz and should have scored within 10 seconds. Ibra and Figo combined brilliantly, but the Honduran slid the finish inches wide from six yards.
Nicolas Burdisso also nodded Cesar's cross off target, but it was Napoli who set up a tense finale with a goal six minutes from time. Substitute Roberto Sosa got between two defenders and placed a slow but precise lobbed header into the far corner.
Edy Reja went for it with striker Emanuele Calaio', but this left Inter space to counter and Matteo Contini was booked for scything into the back of Suazo, a borderline red card offence. In the final minute, Ibra earned a standing ovation from the crowd as he dribbled the ball surrounded by four defenders.
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