Final score

31 August 2003 15:00

Inter
49' (2nd half) Materazzi
41' (2nd half) Vieri
Modena
Referee: Stefano Farina / Linesmen: ivaldi, camerota / Fourth official: saccani
Minute Text commentary
47' It's 0-0 at the Meazza after the first half.
46' 2 minutes of additional time to play.
45' Free kick to Inter as Marasco, who is already on a caution, brings Luciano down in midfield.
43' Luciano finds Cordoba with a long throw-in. The Colombian heads straight at Ballotta.
42' Emre plays the corner short to Martins, then from the return pass sets up Luciano, whose cross over to the other side of the area is too long for Vieri.
41' Javier 'Tractor' Zanetti wins a right-wing corner for Inter after a trademark run.
38' Good chance for the visitors. Kamara outjumps the Inter defence and heads an inch-perfect left-wing cross just wide.
37' Modena play some nice one-touch football down the left wing, then Fabio Cannavaro comes in to sort things out, whacking the ball out for a throw-in.
36' Javier Zanetti heads out of defence, but his clearance goes as far as Allegretti, who from 25 yards shoots wide.
33' Luciano and Ungari remain on the ground after a aerial challenge. Both players come back on the pitch after a quick check by the medical staff.
32' Modena substitution: Vignaroli replaces the injured Taldo.
31' The Nerazzurri maintain ball possession but fail to break through the Emilian defence.
29' Play is momentarily stopped as Modena forward Taldo requires treatment. He is subsequently stretchered off.
27' Modena win a free kick on the right wing. Allegretti plays the ball into the middle. Materazzi heads clear then Milanetto shoots over.
25' Allegretti's free kick is on target but it's a 40-yard effort which creates few problems for Toldo.
24' Emre is cautioned for a foul from behind on Kamara.
23' Oba's through on goal as the offside flag stays down after Vieri plays the ball forward. But Ballotta is well positioned and beats the Nigerian to the ball.
22' Bobo heads wide after outjumping Mayer in the Modena box.
20' Free kick to Inter after Marasco obstructs Emre. Yellow card for the Modena midfielder.
18' Van der Meyde plays a crossfield pass to Emre, who shoots on goal. His shot is too central and too weak. No problem for Ballotta.
17' Martins outjumps to Modena defence and heads van der Meyde's left-wing free kick over the bar.
16' Oba again. This time his pace is too much for Modena but his pass to Vieri is inaccurate. The crowd have really got going now.
14' Inter's first real chance falls to Obafemi Martins, who makes a diagonal run on goal but shoots perhaps a little too early. It finishes wide of Ballotta's left-hand post.
12' After the surreal quiet of the opening ten minutes, the San Siro explodes as captain Javier Zanetti makes a crunching tackle on Allegretti.
12' Inter win a free kick on the left. Van der Meyde's set piece is headed round for a corner.
10' Van der Meyde comes forward, plays a one-two with Obafemi Martins. The Ducthman picks up the return pass, advances on goal but is shoved off the ball by an opponent.
9' Luciano combines with Javier Zanetti on the right wing but slices his cross out of play.
6' Balestri takes the ball to the by-line then sends a cross into the middle. Cordoba clears, then Marasco shoots over the bar from 20 yards.
5' Vieri superbly opens up play for van der Meyde with a first-time pass from midfield. The Dutchman runs down the left and is dispossessed.
3' Inter on the attack. J. Zanetti plays a one-two with Oba then passes to Vieri in the area. The flag goes up for offside.
2' Javier Zanetti clears after Allegretti whips in a free kick from the left.
1' Game on. The visitors kick off. FORZA RAGAZZI!!!!
Minute Text commentary
50' Full time. INTER 2-0 MODENA
49' GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL!!!! Materazzi fires the 25-yard free kick into the top left-hand corner.
47' Free kick to us after Oba Martins is repeatedly obstructed. Ungaro is deservedly booked.
45' There will be 4 minutes of additional time.
41' BOBOGOL!!!!!!!!!! In the nick of time, Vieri fires home to give Inter the lead. THE GOAL: Bobo picks up Helveg's through ball on the edge of the box, shakes off his marker then rifles his shot past Ballotta.
40' Van der Meyde crosses in from the right. Ballotta beats Vieri to the ball, but only just...
39' Farina cautions Modena keeper Ballotta for time-wasting.
38' Kily Gonzalez fires wide from 20 yards after receiving from captain Zanetti.
35' Modena win a corner after good work on the right wing by Campedelli. Cordoba gets the tackle in.
33' Hector Cuper makes his third and final substitution: Helveg replaces Emre.
32' Cordoba heads van der Meyde's free kick over the bar.
31' Free kick to us on the left channel as Javier Zanetti in full flight is sent crahsing to the ground by Balestri.
27' Superb move by the Nerazzurri. Lamouchi waltzes past three Modena players then plays the ball forward to Martins. Obagol zips past his marker and crosses into the middle. The ball is cleared as far as Andy van der Meyde, who fires over the bar.
24' Kily plays a high ball to Vieri, but Milanetto gets there first and heads round for a corner. From van der Meyde's corner Ballotta pulls off a superb save to deny Cordoba whose header at the far post is on target.
23' Van der Meyde outpaces an opponent on the right and crosses over the the far side, where Kily picks up the ball. The Argentine's pass back into the middle is blocked and cleared.
21' Modena bring on Corrent for Allegretti.
20' Cuper makes a double substitution: Lamouchi for C. Zanetti, Kily for Luciano. With Kily Gonzalez on, van der Meyde moves to the right wing.
19' Luciano picks up the ball on the right wing, beats Ungari then sends in a low cross. Cevoli clears, corner for Inter.
17' Vieri passes to van der Meyde, who takes the ball into the area but fails to find Martins with a weak pass with the outside of his right foot.
13' Incredible miss by Vieri, who turns his marker beautifully and shoots, only to see his left-footed effort from eight yards hit the inside of the post.
11' Our flying Dutchman takes on three opponents down the middle then plays a diagonal pass to his right. Luciano crosses over for Vieri but it's too long.
10' From the right flank Luciano crosses over to van der Meyde, who from eight yards out shoots wide. The Dutchman falls awkwardly and requires treatment, but there's no serious problem.
9' Materazzi finds Oba with a long pass upfield. But Ballotta is in form today and pounces on the Nigerian as he turns.
8' Emre plays the ball through to Martins, who gets to the by-line then crosses into the middle. The pass is weak and Ballotta beats Vieri to the ball.
5' Emre puts Oba Martins through on goal, but the Nigerian shoots wide. Inter claim a corner as the shot seems to have taken a deflection but Farina gives a goal kick.
3' Kily Gonzalez and Kallon have begun warming up.
2' Campedelli requires treatment after a challenge by Materazzi.
1' Inter get the second period underway.
Vieri
8.17
8.17
Zanetti
5.96
5.96
Zanetti
7.75
7.75
Cordoba
7
7
Materazzi
8.14
8.14
Emre
6.69
6.69
Toldo
7.05
7.05
Cannavaro
7.11
7.11
Martins
7.01
7.01
Lamouchi
6.77
6.77
Luciano
5.51
5.51
Van Der Meyde
7.27
7.27
Helveg
7.08
7.08
Kily Gonzalez
6.82
6.82
Average rating 7.02
7 shots on target 1
11 shots off target 6
17 fouls committed 15
8 corners 1
4 offsides 1
34:57 ball possession 23:24
Head-to-head: Cuper v Malesani

Hector Cuper has beaten Alberto Malesani 3-0 in both previous meetings between the coaches:

In detail:

2001/02 Serie A Inter-Verona 3-0 3-0

Head-to-head:Cuper v Modena

Hector Cuper's has faced Modena twice in official matches, winning both by two goals to nil.

In detail:

2002/03 Serie A Inter-Modena 2-0 2-0

Head-to-head: Malesani v Inter

Alberto Malesani faces the Nerazzurri for the 14th time in his coaching career. So far, he has won 5, drawn 3 and lost 5.

In detail:

1997/98 Serie A Fiorentina-Inter 1-1 2-3
1998/99 Serie A Parma-Inter 1-0 3-1
1998/99 C. Italia Parma-Inter 2-1 2-0
1999/00 Serie A Parma-Inter 1-1 1-5
1999/00 Serie A play-off Parma-Inter 1-3 (played in Verona)
2000/01 C. Italia Parma-Inter 6-1 0-0
2001/02 Serie A Verona-Inter 0-3 0-3

Home victories for Inter since 1995/96

Inter have won all of their season openers played at home since 1995/96. The last side to beat the Nerazzurri in the first round was Roma, who won 1-0 at the Olimpico on 11 September 1994 courtesy of Festa's own goal. Since then, Inter have recorded 8 home wins in a row: Inter 1-0 Vicenza (1995), Inter 1-0 Perugia (1996), Inter 2-1 Brescia (1997), Inter 1-0 Piacenza (1998), Inter 3- 0 Verona (1999), Inter 3-1 Napoli (2000), Inter 4-1 Perugia (2001) and Inter 1-0 Torino (2002).

Vieri consistently on target in Serie A opening matches with Inter

Since joining Inter, Bobogol has always scored on the opening day the season. He scored all three of the Nerazzurri's goals in Inter 3-0 Verona (1999/00), hit a brace in Inter 4-1 Perugia (2001/02) and scored the winner in Inter 1-0 Torino last year. Vieri did not play in the opening match of the 2000/01 season, a 2-1 defeat away to Reggina.

Inter: looking for Italian scorers

An Italian player hasn't scored for Inter in the side's last 7 official matches. The last 8 goals of the 2002/03 season were all scored by foreign players. Bobo Vieri was the last Italian on target for the Nerazzurri, in Valencia 1-2 Inter on 22 April 2003. Before that, you have to go back to 16 March 2003 and Inter 4-0 Como, when Di Biagio scored. Since then, Inter have played 14 official matches, with 18 goals scored.

Inter v Modena in first round for third time

Inter meet Modena on the opening day of the Serie A for the third time. Both previous matches were played in Milan: Inter 1-1 Modena (14 September 1947) and Inter 2-1 Modena (15 September 1963).

Malesani unbeaten on opening day of season

31 August is a historical day in Alberto Malesani's coaching career: on his Serie A debut in 1997, the Veronese coach led Fiorentina to a 3-2 victory away to Udinese, with Batistuta grabbing a hat-trick. Malesani's other Serie A openers since then have all finished in draws: Parma 0-0 Vicenza (1998), Perugia 1-1 Parma (1999), Parma 2-2 Fiorentina (2000) and Verona 1-1 Roma (2001). He makes his return to the Italian top flight after a season in the Serie B with Verona. Interestingly, Malesani's first defeat in the Serie A was at the hands of the Nerazzurri: Inter 3-2 Fiorentina (21 September 1997).

Modena crisis away from home

The Emilians haven't won an away match since 10 November 2002, when they beat Reggina 1-0 in Reggio Calabria. Since then, Modena have played 12 matches on the road, recording 5 draws and 7 defeats.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(16) draws(4) defeats(1)

starting lineups

Toldo 1 BALLOTTA
Zanetti 4 MAYER
Cannavaro 17 CEVOLI
Materazzi 23 UNGARI
Cordoba 2 CAMPEDELLI
Luciano 11 MARASCO
Zanetti 6 MILANETTO
Emre 5 BALESTRI
Van Der Meyde 7 KAMARA
Vieri 32 ALLEGRETTI
Martins 30 TALDO

substitutes

Fontana 12 ZANCOPE'
Adani 15 PIVOTTO
Helveg 13 STELLINI
Lamouchi 8 CORRENT
Kily Gonzalez 18 PONZO
Kallon 3 SCOPONI
Recoba 20 VIGNAROLI