Final score

17 December 2006 15:00

Inter
14' (2nd half) Ibrahimovic
4' (2nd half) Materazzi
Messina
Referee: Nicola Stefanini / Linesmen: Lanciano, Cariolato / Fourth official: Zanichelli
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
51' It's 0-0 after an explosive first half at the Giuseppe Meazza.
49' Bruno Giordano has been sent off.
49' Materazzi is inexplicably booked for taking the ball back from Messina coach Bruno Giordano after tackling Cordova on the touchline.
48' Spotting Julio Cesar off his line, Parisi tries an ambitious shot from inside his own half. Zanetti blocks.
47' Storari clutches a Figo cross from the right to deny Recoba.
46' Corner for Inter. Recoba's inswinger is cleared by Storari. Inter remain in attack and El Chino has a chance from an tight angle but volleys narrowly wide.
45' 4 minutes of injury time.
45' Recoba's left-foot effort is punched clear by Storari.
44' Free kick to Inter 30 yards out for a De Vezze foul on Figo.
43' Ogasawara has a shot blocked by Materazzi (where it hurts...).
41' Zoro skips past Cambiasso and unleashes a fierce left-foot shot from 20 yards. It's wide of the right post.
40' Maicon's flicked header from Figo's deep right-wing cross is over the Messina bar.
39' Parisi tackles Figo on the right. Corner for Inter.
38' Ibra collects a Vieira pass in the Messina box but has his shot blocked.
36' Zanetti receives from El Chino and sends a low shot on target from 20 yards. Storari gets down to save.
33' Messina close as Zoro gets to the right-wing by-line and cuts back for Floccari to fire a low shot wide from the edge of the six-yard box.
32' Recoba fires wide after a wonderful passing move by the Nerazzurri.
31' Messina clear the corner as far as Cambiasso, whose thunderous shot is deflected out by Parisi. Nothing comes of Recoba's corner as Stefanini blows for a foul.
30' Another corner for Inter a De Vezze cuts out Maxwell's driven cross from the left.
29' Messina struggle to clear Recoba's inswinger from the right-wing corner flag. The move ends with Ibra's shot rebounding off Cambiasso.
28' Headed clearance by Zanchi from another Figo right-wing cross. The Nerazzurri remain in attack and win a corner.
27' Inter close again. Ibra's close-range header from Figo's right-wing cross bounces before hitting the crossbar.
27' Superb headed intervention by Nicolas Burdisso, who denies Floccari a scoring chance from De Vezze's floated ball into the Inter area.
24' Inter close through Figo who combines with Ibra before sending a curling shot on target. Storari parries, then makes a punched clearance from the resulting corner kick.
23' Recoba picks out Maicon in space and plays a crossfield pass to the Brazilian who fires wide from 25 yards.
21' Ogasawara fails to make headed contact with Zoro's right-wing cross. The ball rolls out for an Inter throw.
20' Zoro intercepts Figo on the left edge of the Messina box and plays to safety.
19' Recoba's curling shot from the resulting free kick is inches wide of Storari's left-hand post.
18' Figo is tripped by De Vezze after collecting a return pass from Recoba. The Messina defender is booked.
18' Ibrahimovic is back on the pitch with a bandaged right leg.
16' Parisi clears a Recoba cross from a long-range free kick.
16' Inter temporarily down to 10 men again as Ibrahimovic receives more treatment.
15' It looks as if Ibrahimovic is unable to continue.
14' Inter replace Walter Samuel with Nicolas Burdisso, who scored twice against Messina in the cup last month.
13' Walter Samuel appears to have hurt a muscle during a duel with Floccari. Burdisso is set to come on.
13' Cambiasso, making his 100th appearance for Inter today, overhits his pass for the front men. Storari gathers.
12' Recoba tries a one-two with Zanetti but is tackled by Rea.
11' Ibrahimovic is caught in possession after receiving from Figo on the edge of the Messina area.
11' Ibra is back on the pitch. The Meazza applauds.
10' Vieira's headed clearance from Zoro's right-wing cross is smashed over the bar by Japanese midfielder Ogasawara.
9' Inter momentarily down to 10 men as the Swedish forward receives treatment behind the Messina goal.
8' Zlatan requires medical attention after a collision with the Messina keeper.
8' Storari is quick off his line to beat Ibra to Vieira's delightful ball over the Messina defence.
7' Zoro blocks and clears a Vieira ball into the box after Figo's attempt at a one-two is thwarted by the Sicilian defence.
5' Parisi has a go from the left side of the Inter box. The Messina defender's diagonal rising drive is plucked out of the air by Julio Cesar.
4' Di Napoli receives in space on the right, advances several yards and unleashes a left-foot shot from 20 yards. It's too central, there's not enough power in it, and Julio Cesar makes an easy save.
1' Welcome to the Stadio Meazza in Milan's San Siro district for Inter v Messina. Goals from Burdisso (2), Gonzalez and Andreolli dealt the Sicilians a 4-0 Tim Cup thrashing when these two teams last met on 29 November. Let's hope for more of the same today.
1' Messina kick off. FORZA NERAZZURRI!!!!!
1' Messina: 1 Storari; 27 Zanchi, 8 Zoro, 33 Iuliano, 13 Rea, 19 Parisi; 5 De Vezze, 16 Ogasawara, 20 Cordova; 18 Floccari, 11 Di Napoli.
1' Inter: 12 Julio Cesar, 13 Maicon, 23 Materazzi, 25 Samuel, 6 Maxwell; 7 Figo, 14 Vieira, 19 Cambiasso, 4 Zanetti; 20 Recoba, 8 Ibrahimovic.
1' The match will kick off after a minute's silence to remember the two Juventus academy players who lost their lives in a tragic accident on Friday.
Minute Text commentary
48' Full time. Inter beat Messina 2-0 to set a new club record of nine consecutive Serie A victories.
48' Adriano races down the right but is immediately surrounded by three opponents.
45' 3 minutes of added time to play.
45' Stankovic fires wide from distance.
44' Adriano heads over from Figo's corner.
43' Adriano has a go from distance. The Brazilian's blistering effort takes a deflection. Corner for Inter.
42' Lavecchia's shot from 20 yards is too central. Easy save for Julio Cesar.
40' Luis Figo collects a pass, turns and fires wide from 25 yards.
38' Julio Cesar saves a Iuliano shot from inside the Inter area. Corner for Messina.
37' Iuliano smashes clear an Ibra ball into the Messina area.
35' Storari catches Adriano's header as the Brazilian goes close to breaking his goal drought.
33' Maicon's flicked header from Figo's corner falls to Ibra is denied by Parisi.
33' Storari makes a one-handed save to deny Adriano again, this time from Maicon's cross.
32' Storari beats Adriano to Figo's corner.
32' Messina bring on Provenzano for De Vezze.
30' Ooooohhhh!!!!! Dejan Stankovic receives in space and crashes a right-foot shot against the upright.
26' Inter bring on Vieira for Stankovic.
25' Ibra delights the Meazza with some fancy footwork in the Messina area.
24' Good tackle by Burdisso on Floccari in the Inter area to deny the Messina forward a one-on-one with Julio Cesar.
22' Figo is tackled by Parisi as he looks for a way into the Giallorossi box from the right.
20' Corner for Messina after Parisi's free kick takes a deflection.
20' Messina sub Lavecchia hits the far post with a low left-foot shot from inside the Inter area after receiving from Zoro.
19' And Inter replace Recoba with Adriano.
19' Messina bring on Lavecchia for Ogasawara.
14' That was Ibra's seventh goal for Inter.
14' GOOOAAAALL!!!! Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubles Inter's lead with a low shot past Storari from Maicon's through ball.
11' Free kick to Inter on the left wing for a foul by Morello on Recoba.
11' Storari palms clear a Figo cross to deny Materazzi a second goal.
11' Figo's inswinger from the left is headed clear by Floccari.
9' Zanetti tests Storari with a low drive from 25 yards.
9' Rea makes a headed clearance from Figo's right-wing cross.
8' Maxwell booked for foul play.
7' Figo's lob shot from distance is over Storari's crossbar.
6' Zoro booked for a foul on Zanetti.
4' GOOOAAALLLL!!!! Marco Materazzi's splendid overhead kick from Ibra's headed pass gives Inter the lead at the Meazza.
3' Storari makes a punched clearance from Recoba's right-wing corner.
3' Recoba's fierce left-foot drive is parried by Storari. Corner for Inter.
3' Another free kick for the Nerazzurri, this time over 35 yards out.
2' Recoba's curling free kick is just over the Sicilian bar.
1' Inter get the second half going. FORZA RAGAZZI!!!
1' Free kick to inter 25 yards out for a foul by Iuliano on Ibrahimovic.
1' Free kick to Inter 25 yards out for a foul by Iuliano on Ibrahimovic.
1' Messina have replaced Zanchi with Morello.
Recoba
7.47
7.47
Zanetti
7.53
7.53
Materazzi
9.21
9.21
Adriano
7.49
7.49
Stankovic
7.67
7.67
Cambiasso
7.3
7.3
Burdisso
7.22
7.22
Julio Cesar
7.2
7.2
Samuel
6.81
6.81
Figo
7.45
7.45
Maicon
7.8
7.8
Maxwell
6.75
6.75
Vieira
7.52
7.52
Ibrahimovic
8.83
8.83
Average rating 7.59
11 shots on target 5
11 shots off target 7
15 fouls committed 10
11 corners 2
1 offsides 1
28:03 ball possession 24:43
Mancini v Giordano

Roberto Mancini has faced Messina coach Bruno Giordano on two previous occasions: this season's two-legged Coppa Italia round of sixteen tie.

Details:

2006/07 Coppa Italia Inter-Messina 4-0 1-0

Mancini v Messina

Roberto Mancini has won 5 and lost just 1 of his 6 previous meetings with the Giallorossi from Sicily. Mancini's teams have scored in all 6 games, netting a total of 16 goals.

Details:

2004/05 Serie A Inter-Messina 5-0 1-2
2005/06 Serie A Inter-Messina 3-0 2-1
2006/07 Coppa Italia Inter-Messina 4-0 1-0

Giordano v Inter

Messina coach Bruno Giordano has faced Inter on two previous occasions: this season's two-legged Coppa Italia round of sixteen tie.

Details:

2006/07 Coppa Italia Messina-Inter 0-1 0-4

Disciplinary situation

Inter
Disqualified: -
Cautioned: Dacourt

Messina
Disqualified: -
Cautioned: Di Napoli, Lavecchia, Masiello, Parisi, Riganò, Storari, Zoro

Cambiasso poised for 100th Inter appearance

If he plays against Messina in Serie A Week 16, Esteban Cambiasso will complete a century of competitive appearances for the Nerazzurri. The Argentine midfielder has played 68 times in the Serie A, 7 in the Coppa Italia, 22 in European competitions and twice in the Italian Super Cup. El Cuchu made his Inter debut in the 1-1 Champions League qualifying draw at Basel on 11 August 2004.

Crespo most decisive player in Serie A

Hernan Crespo is the most decisive player in the 2006/07 Serie A after 15 rounds of matches. The Argentine forward's goals have won his team 15 points.

Mancini & points in December

According to the statistics, teams coached by Roberto Mancini win more points in December than any other month of the footballing year. The Inter coach has a points per match average of 2.19 in the twelfth calendar month thanks to 14 victories, 4 draws and 3 defeats from 21 matches.

Inter's 470-minute invincibility at home

The Nerazzurri haven't let in a goal at home since Lucarelli's 70th-minute header in Inter 4-1 Livorno on 25 October 2006. Including the remaining 20 minutes of that game plus the victories over Ascoli (2-0, Serie A), Reggina (1-0, Serie A), Sporting Lisbon (1-0, Champions League), Messina (4-0, Coppa Italia) and Siena (2-0, Serie A), Inter haven't conceded a home goal for 470 minutes of competitive football.

Inter unbeaten in 17 games

Inter are unbeaten in 17 competitive matches (14 wins, 3 draws), a run which includes 10 consecutive victories (a new record for the club under the administration of Massimo Moratti). The Nerazzurri's last defeat was the 2-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on 27 September 2006. In the domestic championship Inter have won their last eight games. A win against Messina at the Stadio Meazza will see Mancini's side better the club record of eight consecutive Serie A victories set in 1939/40, 1964/65 and 1988/89.

Inter on target in 26 consecutive home Serie A games

The Nerazzurri have scored in each of their last 26 top-flight games at home, scoring a total of 63 goals. Inter 0-0 Reggina on 29 May 2005 was the last time Mancini's men failed to score in the league.

No Messina away win in league since January

Messina's last away win in the Serie A was a 3-1 victory at Empoli on 8 January 2006. Since then the Sicilians have collected 4 draws and 12 defeats from 16 away games. The Giallorossi have conceded in each of their last 18 Serie A away games, letting in a total of 38 goals. Their last clean sheet on the road was Treviso 0-0 Messina on 4 December 2005.

Messina's 14-match conceding streak

Sicilian outfit Messina have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 14 Serie A and Coppa Italia matches, letting in a total of 29 goals. Their last clean sheet came at the Stadio San Filippo on 20 September 2006 when the Giallorossi defeated Reggina 2-0 in the 'derby dello Stretto'.

Riganò close to club record

Christian Riganò, Serie A top scorer with Totti after fifteen rounds of matches (9 goals apiece), is just four goals away from equalling Arturo Di Napoli's record of 13 goals in one season for Messina.

Messina most undisciplined team in Serie A

With 7 red cards and 48 yellows, Messina are top of the list for cautions and sendings-off after 15 rounds of 2006/07 Serie A games. Coppola, Zanchi have seen red twice this season, while Cordova, Iuliano and Parisi have been sent off once.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(5) draws(0) defeats(0)
MILAN - Marco Materazzi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored second-half goals as Inter beat Messina 2-0 at the Meazza to open up a double-figure lead at the top of the Serie A table ahead of tonight's late game between Roma and Palermo.

The win sees Mancini's side set a new club record of nine consecutive top-flight victories.

The match kicked off after a minute's silence in memory of the two Juventus youngsters who lost their lives in a tragic accident on Friday.

Messina were quicker out of the blocks, with Julio Cesar making saves from Di Napoli and Parisi in the opening five minutes.

Inter lost Samuel through injury in the thirteenth minute, Burdisso coming on as a substitute for his compatriot.

Ibrahimovic twice required touchline treatment as Maicon and Zoro also took knocks during a physical opening forty-five minutes.

The Nerazzurri's best chances of a first-half goal fell to Recoba, whose curling free kick went inches wide, and Ibrahimovic, whose close-range header from a Figo cross bounced before hitting the crossbar.

Tempers flared in added time at the end of a fiery first half, with Materazzi booked and Messina coach Giordano sent off following an incident on the touchline.

Materazzi broke the deadlock four minutes after the restart with a spectacular overhead kick from Ibrahimovic's headed assist.

Inter were 2-0 up ten minutes later when Maicon took on three opponents during a devastating run down the middle before playing through to Ibrahimovic who fired coolly past Storari to net his seventh goal for the club.

Messina substitute Lavecchia went closest to reducing the deficit, striking the far post with a low diagonal shot from Zoro's pass.

Inter launched an all-out assualt on the Messina goal in the closing stages, with Stankovic denied a third when the Serbian's rocket shot from 20 yards smacked against the upright. Adriano posed a constant threat to the Giallorossi defence after replacing Recoba, twice going close with headers.

Iuliano and Lavecchia had efforts saved by Julio Cesar shot as Messina battled until the final whistle.

INTER 2-0 MESSINA (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Materazzi 49, Ibrahimovic 59

INTER: 12 Julio Cesar, 13 Maicon, 23 Materazzi, 25 Samuel (16 Burdisso), 6 Maxwell; 7 Figo, 14 Vieira (5 Stankovic 71), 19 Cambiasso, 4 Zanetti; 20 Recoba (10 Adriano 64), 8 Ibrahimovic
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 18 Crespo, 21 Solari, 91 Gonzalez
Coach: Roberto Mancini

MESSINA: 1 Storari; 27 Zanchi (31 Morello 46), 8 Zoro, 33 Iuliano, 13 Rea, 19 Parisi; 5 De Vezze (67 Provenzano 77), 16 Ogasawara (77 Lavecchia 64), 20 Cordova; 18 Floccari, 11 Di Napoli
Subs not used: 88 Caglioni, 3 Minetti, 10 Iliev, 86 Ghomsi
Coach: Bruno Giordano

Referee: Nicola Stefanini (Prato)

Booked: De Vezze 18, Materazzi 45+4, Zoro 51, Maxwell 53
Sent off: Giordano 45+4

starting lineups

Julio Cesar 12 Storari
Maicon 13 Zanchi
Materazzi 23 Zoro
Samuel 25 Iuliano
Maxwell 6 Rea
Vieira 14 Parisi
Cambiasso 19 De Vezze
Zanetti 4 Ogasawara
Figo 7 Cordova
Ibrahimovic 8 Floccari
Recoba 20 Di Napoli

substitutes

Toldo 1 Caglioni
Gonzalez 91 Lavecchia
Stankovic 5 Morello
Solari 21 Minetti
Adriano 10 Ghomsi
Crespo 18 Provenzano
Burdisso 16 Iliev