Internazionale vs. Palermo

Mario Balotelli started despite a flu virus, though Wesley Sneijder was sidelined and only the bench for Diego Milito and Thiago Motta. Former Inter legend Walter Zenga returned to San Siro with three consecutive wins under his belt, but Cesare Bovo was suspended and Federico Balzaretti and Fabio Liverani injured. Melinte received his Serie A debut.

The referee pointed to the spot just five minutes into the match. Balotelli somehow managed to turn round between three defenders at the byline and eventually Melinte's leg tripped him up. Samuel Eto'o did convert by sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Sirigu palmed another Maicon angled drive round the upright with one hand after the Brazilian had surged past Melinte, but could do nothing on Balotelli's towering header from the resulting Maicon corner to the near post.

It was 3-0 just shy of the half-time break. Sirigu was unable to grab hold of a looping header because Kjaer got in his way, so Cambiasso and finally Balotelli tapped in from point-blank range.

Less than 60 seconds later Balotelli drew two defenders to the byline and pulled back for the on-rushing Eto'o to net at the near post.

Palermo got back into the game with the first Miccoli career against Inter in his career. He ran between Samuel and Cordoba to trap a long Simplicio ball forward, Julio Cesar could only slow it down for the tap into an empty net.

Hernandez trapped a cross-field pass with perfect technique, but a defender managed to cut him off at the near post. That was just a warning as Hernandez bagged his first Serie A goal to make it 4-2. Cassani sprung the offside trap down the right to cross low for a Hernandez volley with the inside of his foot.

Moments later it was 4-3 as Miccoli sprung the offside trap from a Cassano flick with the outside of his right boot and lifted the ball over the on-rushing Julio Cesar.

Milito threaded through for Motta's angled drive smothered at the near post and Inter washed away the final fears of an epic comeback. Maicon got away from Pastore at the byline and flashed the ball across the face of goal for Milito's tap-in from six yards making it 5-3.