Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two of the best goals of his career to sink Palermo in Sicily and keep Inter top for another week. There is some bad news, as Ivan Cordoba will be banned for the clash with Juventus.

Jose Mourinho may have been top of the table, but he was feeling the heat from the Italian Press after a last-gasp win over Udinese. He froze out Adriano and the disappointing Ricardo Quaresma, while Cristian Chivu, Luis Jimenez, Nelson Rivas and Luis Figo were injured. Surprisingly this meant a more defensive approach with Sulley Ali Muntari supporting the two forwards.

The honeymoon was also over for Davide Ballardini since Palermo picked up four points from their last five games. Antonio Nocerino sat out a ban, while Marco Amelia was sidelined.

Palermo had the first excellent chance after 11 minutes, as Fabrizio Miccoli's free kick got a glancing header off Edison Cavani and Julio Cesar got down for a crucial diving save off the line!

Moments later Esteban Cambiasso decisively cut out Miccoli's pass to Fabio Simplicio in the box. Miccoli and Simplicio combined only for the 'Pocket Striker' to scuff wide, then Julio Cesar smothered a Cavani header from Federico Balzaretti's cross.

Douglas Maicon's snapshot on the counter sailed just over the bar and Zlatan Ibrahimovic went very close with a mazy run and powerful low shot on 27 minutes that Jimmy Fontana parried with his legs. Ibra felt he deserved a free kick in the D for Moris Carrozzieri's clumsy challenge, but the referee waved play on.

Julio Cesar blocked a Giulio Migliaccio solo effort as it curled towards the far bottom corner.

The second half certainly started with a bang! 20 seconds in Ibrahimovic seemed to be in position for a cross outside the wide right hand corner of the box, but instead he hit an absolute screamer that ricocheted in off the inside of the far post! It was a stunning strike measured at 86km/h and another for the Ibra collectionists.

Palermo were understandably stunned, as they had been doing well up until then and capitulated to a gem just seconds into the second half. Muntari flicked on a pass towards Julio Cruz, who toe-poked it for Fontana to fingertip inches round the post. Patrick Vieira had a free header from the corner, but turned it well wide.

Ibra went on another mazy run down the left and Fontana pushed the powerful low drive out of the bottom near corner. Muntari was inches away from getting his head to Ibra's cross after some fancy footwork, as the Swede sprung to life and began entertaining himself.

Palermo fought back and an acrobatic Walter Samuel clearance prevented Igor Budan getting on the end of a dangerous cross, then Cavani drilled wide from the D.

Ibrahimovic clattered into Carrozzieri - both 6'4" - and the referee awarded the free kick to Inter, though the Swede seemed to look for the contact. It proved a crucial decision, as from that free kick Ibra unleashed another right-foot missile from 20 metres that smashed under the bar with astonishing power. This time it was clocked at 124km/h!

Simplicio dribbled past four Nerazzurri shirts before Ivan Cordoba was booked for a foul right on the very edge of the area. This means the Colombian will be suspended for next week's showdown with Juventus. Julio Cesar smothered the consequent Miccoli curler.

Cambiasso's free kick skimmed the base of the far post as it went past everyone. Inter somehow failed to score a third on 79 minutes, as Fontana parried Ibra's shot into the path of Amantino Mancini, who couldn't squeeze it past the goalkeeper and defenders from point-blank range.

Igor Budan's header looped on to the roof of the net, but Mancini's solo effort and swerving finish shaved a coat of paint off the far post.

Ibra could have made it a hat-trick with another rocket, but this time Fontana flew to get a fingertip to it before it slotted into the near top corner.