Inter Milan warmed up for Wednesday’s Champions League blockbuster against Barcelona with a comfortable 2-0 Serie A victory over Parma on Sunday.
Inter face the European champions at the San Siro in Group F, with the game given extra spice by the big-money swap between the clubs this summer involving Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o. The Catalans will know all about the damage Eto’o can inflict and, after Parma had frustrated Inter for 70 minutes, the Cameroon striker curled in a beauty from 20 yards after good work from Mario Balotelli. Diego Milito then made sure of the points with a second a minute from time after again being set up by Balotelli. The three points lifted Inter to within two points of Serie A leaders Juventus while for Parma it was a first defeat of the season.
Don’t Miss
Diego injury mars Juve’s perfect start
Inter thrash rivals AC in Milan derby
Diego double gives Juventus victory
Barcelona to face Inter in Europe
Inter coach Jose Mouriinho told reporters: “That was a normal match. We didn’t have enough intensity in the first half but we could have scored four or five goals. “Parma played really well and I was expecting that. But my team played to win and I like it that way.” In other games Claudio Ranieri began his Roma career with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at 10-man Siena thanks to a late free-kick from substitute John Arne Riise. The comeback of the day went to Udinese and their striker Antonio Di Natale who scored a second-half hat-trick as the hosts overturned a 2-1 half-time deficit to beat Catania 4-2. Juventus are top of the table following their 2-0 win at Lazio on Saturday while Sampdoria joined them on three wins out of three after Daniele Mannini scored the winner in a 1-0 success at Atalanta.
