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Hernan Crespo replied to Antonio Cassano, as Inter slow down with a stalemate at Marassi.
Roberto Mancini returned to his old hunting ground, the club where he spent 15 seasons as a player, but had never lost to them since starting his Coaching career with three draws and seven wins. Inter may have been 11 points clear in Serie A, but the mood was sombre after their 2-0 Champions League defeat in Liverpool midweek and an injury that rules Ivan Cordoba out for the season. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Julio Cruz were rested.
Sampdoria focused on the inspirational Antonio Cassano - who admits he is a lifelong Inter fan - but Sergio Volpi and Vincenzo Montella were sidelined. The Blucerchiati hadn't won this fixture since a 4-0 hammering in 1999, followed by two defeats and a couple of 2-2 draws.
In the opening 90 seconds Dejan Stankovic flicked a pass over the defence and Luca Castellazzi came tearing out to clear from Hernan Crespo. Moments later Samp went even closer, as Claudio Bellucci launched Christian Maggio, who brought a very difficult save out of Julio Cesar. Cassano dispossessed Patrick Vieira and flashed a shot across the face of goal, as Inter were pinned back into their own half.
Mancini switched to a 4-4-2 system with Stankovic on the right and they were much more effective, Crespo just failing to make contact with a Javier Zanetti cross.
Cassano and Bellucci combined brilliantly, but the veteran's overhead kick was off target. Inter complained when Suazo was shoulder-charged in the box, but play had already been stopped for his earlier push.
Cassano's fantastic snapshot brought a desperate save out of Julio Cesar, while Castellazzi kept out David Suazo's angled drive. Zanetti's perfectly timed tackle stopped Hugo Campagnaro, but Bellucci limped off before the break with a knee injury.
Substitute Emiliano Bonazzoli hit the back of the net, but was offside when Cassano's assist came in. Vieira risked a second booking when he appeared to elbow Salvatore Accardi, then Salvatore Lucchini's crucial clearance kept out a dangerous Crespo cross.
Cassano broke the deadlock on 65 minutes to send Marassi wild. Paolo Sammarco intercepted a poor Marco Materazzi clearance and nodded it straight into the path of Cassano, who carried it on off his thigh and smacked a right-foot drive past Julio Cesar into the near top corner.
The Blucerchiati did not clam up, as Julio Cesar beat away a fierce Palombo free kick. Inter had a wonderful opportunity to equalise, but what was almost a goalline clearance denied Esteban Cambiasso's strike.
Inter got their equaliser moments later. Stankovic's cross to the back post for a brilliant Crespo diving header that slotted into the bottom corner. The Argentine had complained last week at how little space he was receiving in the team this season, but took his chance at Marassi.
There was controversy with another unhappy figure, as Patrick Vieira refused to shake Mancini's hand when he was substitute and angrily kicked away the water bottles on the touchline. Stankovic pulled up on his own with an injury and needed a stretcher to leave the field, so he is a real doubt for the upcoming showdown with Roma.
Julio Cesar neutralised a Bonazzoli header and both teams had chances to win it, but the game ended 1-1.
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