Thaindian News

By Alberto Cagliano
Rome, Feb 15 (DPA) Serie A front-runners Inter Milan drew 0-0 in an intense game late Sunday at Napoli, stretching their lead on Roma to seven points with 14 games left.

There was serious trouble for Inter under the hosts’ attacks that brought Slovenian Marek Hamsik to hit the bar from the distance with Julio Cesar vainly diving.

The Brazilian goalkeeper, however, made a miraculous save on a diving header from Argentine German Denis shortly after Fabio Quagliarella fired wide from inside the area.

A first telling attack from Inter on 30 minutes saw Ghana’s Sulley Muntari slam an impressive drive against the bar as Napoli slightly slowed down but still managed efforts through Hamsik and Quagliarella.

Inter opened the second half in a more aggressive mood with Dutchman Wesley Sneijder firing centrally on 47 minutes, and Argentine Diego Milito trying a break into the area.

A better chance went begging on 62 minutes as Macedonian Goran Pandev fired centrally from a good position before Milito missed from a tight angle.

The woodwork again denied Napoli on 65 minutes as Quagliarella connected with an assist from Denis, who fired high on the rebound before troubling Julio Cesar with a goal-area break.

Earlier Sunday, struggling giants Juventus stepped up their sluggish pace with a 3-2 win over guests Genoa that ended a five-game winless run and left them behind joint-fourth Sampdoria and Napoli.

Elsewhere, Cagliari beat promoted Bari 3-1 in a mid-table clash, and strugglers Lazio won 2-0 at promoted Parma, who had Chilean Luis Jimenez dismissed.

Atalanta’s Giampaolo Bellini was sent off as the Bergamo side drew 0-0 at Catania, Bologna won 1-0 at Livorno, and bottom side Siena won 1-0 at Chievo.

On Saturday, Matteo Brighi’s brace helped Roma clinch a 4-1 win over guests Palermo, while Sampdoria beat guests Fiorentina 2-0. On Friday, third-place AC Milan edged Udinese 3-2.