MILAN – Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had first-half goals cancelled out by second-half efforts from Edinson Cavani and Davide Succi as Palermo held Inter 2-2 at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.
It was one-way traffic in the opening period of the Serie A Week 31 clash, with Inter’s 18-year-old striker nodding home the opener on 14 minutes before Ibrahimovic added the second from the penalty spot six minutes before the break.
Despite a strong start to the second half by the visitors, Inter looked to be on course for a 23rd league win but Cavani and Succi scored in the space of three minutes to force the draw.
Francesco Toldo for Julio Cesar between the sticks was Mourinho’s only change to the team that beat Udinese 1-0 last Sunday. Palermo coach Ballardini also made also one switch to the team that beat Torino by the same score last weekend, bringing in Cassani for Savini at right-back.
The Easter Saturday fixture kicked off after a minute’s silence to remember the Abruzzo earthquake victims. All the players wore black armbands while Mourinho donned a black tie as a mark of respect.
Inter had an early chance when the flag stayed down after Ibrahimovic controlled Cambiasso’s through ball and lobbed Amelia but his effort was off-target. Balotelli did better five minutes after, rising totally unmarked in the area to head Muntari’s left-wing cross beyond a hapless Amelia for his seventh goal in all competitions this season.
SuperMario went close to a quick second, lifting Muntari’s floated pass over Amelia and the crossbar before Ibrahimovic tested the Palermo custodian with a fierce angled drive.
Amelia pulled off more saves from Stankovic and Maxwell but there was nothing he could do to stop Ibrahimovic topping the scorers list with his 20th of the season with a powerful penalty kick after a foul in the area by Kjaer.
Palermo came out for the second half all guns blazing but the first chance fell to Balotelli whose curling shot missed by a matter of inches. Rosanero substitute Bresciano volleyed narrowly wide and Toldo made a splendid tipped save from Cavani as the visitors continued their search for a goal.
Their first came in the 73rd minute when Cavani fired diagonal shot past Toldo. The second arrived three minutes later when Bresciano delivered a cross to the back post and Miccoli played first-time into the path of Succi who slid home from close range.
Miccoli went close to a late winner, curling inches wide after drifting past three opponents.
Inter 2-2 Palermo (HT: 2-0)
Scorers: Balotelli 15, Ibrahimovic (pen) 39, Cavani 73, Succi 76.
Inter: 1 Toldo; 39 Santon, 2 Cordoba, 26 Chivu, 6 Maxwell (18 Crespo 79); 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso, 20 Muntari (7 Figo 79); 5 Stankovic; 45 Balotelli (14 Vieira 74), 8 Ibrahimovic.
Subs not used: 22 Orlandoni, 9 Cruz, 16 Burdisso, 25 Samuel.
Coach: José Mourinho.
Palermo: 32 Amelia; 16 Cassani, 24 Kjaer, 80 Carrozzieri, 42 Balzaretti; 8 Migliaccio (23 Bresciano 46), 11 Liverani (5 Bovo 70), 33 Nocerino (19 Succi 57); 30 Simplicio; 7 Cavani, 10 Miccoli.
Subs not used: 1 Ujkani, 4 Tedesco, 25 Savini, 90 Hernandez.
Coach: Davide Ballardini.
Referee: Carmine Russo (Nola).
Booked: Bovo 45+2, Stankovic 65, Succi 76, Chivu 89, Simplicio 90+1.

UDINE – Cristian Chivu carried off Sky Sport Italia’s man of the match award for his performance against Udinese.
"We knew we could increase our lead over Juventus and now we are nine points clear," said the Romanian defender. "We played a discrete game but we didn’t manage to express ourselves at best in the first half. We created more in the second half.
"Knowing Juventus’ result didn’t make any difference. We didn’t think about their result against Chievo. It’s them who have to worry about our results. We’re in front and we’re only thinking about playing our matches.
"We told ourselves before the game that we could stay seven points clear or go nine clear. We did it and we are happy.
"It hasn’t been an easy season for me because I missed the pre-season preparations and I was out for four months, and then I injured my knee. I take each day as it comes and enjoy every moment, waiting for Sunday to give my contribution to the team."

Inter Milan defender Cristian Chivu is keen on a return to former club Roma.
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APPIANO GENTILE – Nerazzurri is back on the training pitch this morning for the second time this week. As known Josè Mourinho, Silvino (the goalie trainer), and Andrea Butti (the team manager) are in the States to verify the facilities in which Nerazzuri are going to spend their summer retreat. Giuseppe Baresi headed the traing helped by Daniele Bernazzani, Rui Faria and Piero Bosaglia.
Eight Nerazzurri members were not present because busy with homegrown teams (Adriano, Julio Cesar, Maicon, Sulley Muntari, Victor Obinna, Walter Samuel, Dejan Stankovic and Javier Zanetti). After warm up, the first group started with a session focused on possession drills and aerobic exercises. Ivan Ramiro Cordoba, Nicolas Burdisso, Cristian Chivu e Luis Figo worked separately because of they injuries.

APPIANO GENTILE – Supervised by fitness coach Gian Nicola Bisciotti and physiotherapists Marco and Massimo Della Casa, Alberto Galbiati and Andrea Galli, four players trained at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti this morning. 
Nicolas Burdisso, Ivan Cordoba and Luis Figo did circuit training with the ball followed by strength building exercises in the gym, while Cristian Chivu continued his recovery from injury with an individual session.

Due to a muscle strain in his tigh, Inter Milan’s Romanian central defender Christian Chivu will miss at least a month of action.

Jose Mourinho will have to shuffle his defence after Chivu is ruled out of the Champions League clash in Manchester…by Salvatore Landolina

APPIANO GENTILE – Inter finished off their preparations for Saturday’s Serie A Week 27 match away to Genoa with a morning workout at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti.
Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel continued their injury rehabilitation with circuit training and agility exercises, while Patrick Vieira, who is suspended for tomorrow’s game at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, underwent an individual session on the pitch and in the gym.

APPIANO GENTILE – Little over a month after the 2-1 quarter-final victory over Roma, José Mourinho’s Nerazzurri take on Sampdoria tomorrow night in the first leg of their Tim Cup semi-final.
The Inter coach has named a nineteen-player squad for the first of two Genoa trips in quick succession (Inter face Genoa in Serie A on Saturday), leaving out injured quintet Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Walter Samuel, Nicolas Burdisso, Christian Chivu and Francesco Bolzoni.
Julio Cesar, Luis Figo, Julio Cruz miss the midweek cup tie for technical reasons, while Davide Santon is unavailable after going down with the flu.
During his pre-match press conference, José Mourinho hit back at all the criticism that has rained on Inter in the last few days. He snapped: "If Ranieri is with Spalletti, I’m with Zenga, Del Neri and Prandelli who have all suffered refereeing wrongs against Juventus and Roma, and with Marino and Novellino who have to play against them this weekend.
"Who knows, maybe it’s better for them to play their Primavera teams. And perhaps it’s better if we don’t play at all…"

APPIANO GENTILE – Inter completed their preparations for Sunday evening’s home fixture against Roma with a morning training session at the Centro Sportivo Angelo Moratti.
Watched by Massimo Moratti, the Nerazzurri started their work with warm-up and velocity drills, continued with some training games and finished off with a series of tactical and possession exercises.
Cristian Chivu and Walter Samuel trained individually (aerobic, strength building work for both defenders).
The players called up to Mourinho’s Inter-Roma squad will return to the training ground this evening ahead of tomorrow night’s 20:30 kick-off.