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Chievo fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic stepped up to give Inter the victory.
Jose Mourinho was furious after a second straight defeat saw his men go through as runners-up in their Champions League group. Add to that reports Adriano and Douglas Maicon turned up 'in no fit state' for training and tension was growing despite leading the table by six points. Inter welcomed bottom of the table Chievo and were without Marco Materazzi, Adriano, Nelson Rivas, Patrick Vieira and Julio Cruz. Victor Obinna received a rare start against his former club.
The statistics did not look good for the visitors, who left behind banned duo Giampiero Pinzi and Davide Mandelli. The 1-0 win at Udinese was their only victory in 14 rounds, their only clean sheet of the season and Inter had won eight of their last 10 Serie A games.
It took less than four minutes for Inter to break through with a fantastic individual strike from Maxwell. The Brazilian sprung the offside trap from Dejan Stankovic's pass and got to the byline, cut back on his right foot to smash the ball under the bar from the tightest of angles, despite the fact there was a goalkeeper and a man on the line.
Stankovic had penalty appeals waved away for a Morero handling offence, as the referee only awarded a corner kick.
There was chaos in the Chievo box on 25 minutes. Stefano Sorrentino's splendid one-handed reaction save denied Stankovic's header from point-blank range, then desperate defending prevented Obinna and Sulley Muntari from diving on to the loose ball.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic drilled wide from distance, as did Michele Marcolini, but the tension inexplicably rose towards the break. Both Muntari and Stankovic went into the book for unnecessary fouls.
Straight after the restart Inter made it 2-0. Stakovic started and finished the move, freeing Douglas Maicon down the right for an Ibrahimovic backheel into the Serb's path in the D for a first-time low drive.
It wasn't over yet, as Chievo got themselves back into it. Sergio Pellissier unleashed a low rocket from outside the box that flew past Julio Cesar's outstretched hand at the near post.
Pellissier almost got another, but scuffed his finish from the penalty spot. Chievo were increasing the pressure and they completed the comeback from 2-0 down to 2-2 at San Siro. A low Mantovani ball across the face of goal found Bentivoglio for a tap-in from five yards! The cross went past several Inter shirts.
The Nerazzurri poured forward in waves with a 4-2-4 system and Sorrentino smothered at Mario Balotelli's feet, but Julio Cesar had to save from Mauro Esposito's counter.
Esteban Cambiasso's header was straight at Sorrentino, but Ibrahimovic rescued his side yet again with a towering header at the back post from Maicon's cross.
Morero was sent off for a second bookable offence on his fellow Argentine Javier Zanetti as the Inter captain ran towards the area.
Ibrahimovic put the win beyond doubt at the 88th minute with another blockbuster, as he hit it first time with incredible power and precision from inside the box to go under the bar!
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