Inter slip further behind Juve in title race

Published on 23/12/2012 00:00

InterNAZIONALE missed the chance to close the gap on Serie A leaders Juventus yesterday when they could only manage a 1-1 home draw with Genoa.

Esteban Cambiasso’s equaliser for the Milan hosts five minutes from time cancelled out Ciro Immobile’s superb individual goal as second-placed Inter nudged up to 35 points, nine behind Juve after the champions won 3-1 against Cagliari on Friday.

Genoa remain second bottom on 14 points.

Inter’s Rodrigo Palacio twice went close early in the second half, first blazing over after finding himself one-on-one with Genoa keeper Sebastien Frey and then forcing a fine save from the Frenchman with a powerful left-foot strike.

A stout Genoa defence easily kept Inter at bay and Immobile hit them with what looked like a fatal sucker punch with 13 minutes left.

His fine individual goal saw him ghost past defender Andrea Ranocchia and slip a smart finish under keeper Samir Handanovic. Cambiasso brought Andrea Stramaccioni’s side back into the game with a thumping header but despite late pressure, Inter could not grab the winner.

n Dieter Hecking has left Nuremberg to take over as coach of Bundesliga rivals Wolfsburg. Hecking, who has agreed a deal until 2016, takes over from Lorenz-Guenther Koestner who stepped down on Thursday after his second stint as interim coach.