Final score

6 October 2002 15:00

Piacenza
27' (2nd half) Maresca
Inter
40' (2nd half) Crespo
23' (2nd half) Recoba
5' (2nd half) Di Biagio
35' Di Biagio
Referee: Gianluca Paparesta / Linesmen: Gemignani, Baglioni / Fourth official: Stagnoli
Minute Text commentary
44' Piacenza player Tosto is cautioned for a harsh challenge on Inter captain Zanetti.
43' Fontana makes another save, this time from Maresca's right-footed free kick.
42' Goalscorer Di Biagio is booked for fouling Di Francesco.
39' Hubner on the break for Piacenza. But with only Fontana to beat, the veteran striker wastes a good chance, sending his effort wide.
38' Maresca neutralises danger from Crespo with a clean sliding tackle on the Argentine in the Piacenza area.
35' GOOOAAAL!!! Di Biagio scores a peach of a goal for Inter, rising above the Piacenza defence to head Recoba's right wing corner in at the near post. 1-0 to Inter!
34' Zanetti crosses in for Crespo, but Mangone anticipates the Argentine centre-forward and clears.
33' A Di Biagio cross is collected by Guardalben before an Inter player can get to the ball.
31' Montano shoots from outside the Inter area. No danger for the Nerazzurri, the shot is too high.
28' A superb save from Fontana. The Nerazzurro keeper tips Di Francesco's header over the crossbar.
27' Zanetti shoots from outside the Piacenza area. The shot is slow and central. Guardalben saves.
26' At the far post, Dario Hubner sends a diving header way over the bar.
18' From inside the Inter box, Dario Hubner strikes a diagonal shot on goal. Fontana gets down to make the save.
15' Recoba takes the corner, Adani rises above the Piacenza defence and heads just wide of the post.
14' Morfeo feeds the ball to Javier Zanetti on the right, the Argentine crosses into the area, but the Piacenza defence clears. Corner to Inter.
9' Another Riccio effort, the ball is central and Fontana makes an easy save.
5' Riccio tries with a shot from outside the area. 'Jimmy' Fontana saves for Inter.
3' Recoba strikes his free kick too central and Piacenza keeper Guardalben collects.
2' After a pacy run, Morfeo is fouled on the edge of the box.
1' Inter kick off against Piacenza.
Minute Text commentary
48' That's it. Inter have beaten Piacenza 4-1.
47' Tosto tries to suprise Fontana with a header, but his effort is off-target.
45' 3 minutes of time added on.
40' IT'S FOUR!!! Recoba crosses in for an unmarked Crespo to head home. The Argentine scores his first goal in the Serie A for Inter.
38' Marcolin shoots from outside the box, the ball is deflected and goes out for a corner.
36' Inter substitution - Dalmat on for Morfeo.
32' Piacenza substitution - With a slight injury, Maresca is replaced by Marcolin.
31' Inter on the break. Recoba takes on a Piacenza player down the left then passes to the centre for Crespo. But the pass is too long.
27' Piacenza pull one back. Maresca's 30-metre free kick gives Fontana no chance.
25' Piacenza substitution - Tramezzani on for Mangone. How about bringing on Obafemi Martins for Inter?
23' They say things come in threes.... GOOOAAAL!!! Inter increase their lead though Recoba, who slots Crespo's pass into the net.
22' Montano's shot for the home side finishes wide.
21' Inter make their second substitution - Pasquale comes on for Francesco Coco.
19' Danger in the Inter box. Cordoba anticipates an advancing Fontana and the ball goes out for a corner.
17' Crespo goes through on goal with only Guardalben to beat, but the Piacenza keeper denies the Argentine.
15' Riccio shoots on goal but Fontana makes a great save.
12' Piacenza substitution - Caccia on for Campagnaro.
12' Inter substitution - Gigi Di Biagio is replaced by Nicola Beati.
11' YOU'RE OFF!! Dario Hubner is given his marching orders for insulting the linesman.
10' What a game Fontana is having! Another crucial save from Riccio.
8' Di Biagio commits a foul on the edge of the Inter box. Jimmy Fontana makes a spectacular save from Maresca's free kick.
5' GOOOAAAL!!! Di Biagio stuns the home fans with a superb goal to put Inter 2-0 up. In a well-worked move, the midfielder exchanges with Morfeo and Recoba before striking past Guardalben.
4' Another miracle from Fontana. He saves from Hubner after Di Francesco's cross in from the left.
3' Fontana makes another incredible save. The Inter custodian denies Dario Hubner from close range.
2' Piacenza get the second half underway.
1' Half time. 1-0 to Inter.
Di Biagio
8.24
8.24
Recoba
7.8
7.8
Zanetti
7.39
7.39
Cordoba
6.81
6.81
Dalmat
6.1
6.1
Fontana
9.14
9.14
Pasquale
6.92
6.92
Beati
6.72
6.72
Coco
6.09
6.09
Morfeo
6.45
6.45
Almeyda
6.33
6.33
Adani
7.02
7.02
Cannavaro
7.07
7.07
Crespo
7.28
7.28
Average rating 7.1
9 shots on target 7
12 shots off target 1
18 fouls committed 20
8 corners 3
4 offsides 1
26:10 ball possession 30:21
Agostinelli vs. Inter

Piacenza coach Andrea Agostinelli has never led out a team against Inter.

Agostinelli vs. Cuper

There are no previous meetings between the two coaches.

Cuper vs. Piacenza

Hector Cuper led the Nerazzurri to 2 victories over Piacenza last season.

2001/02 Serie A Inter-Piacenza 3-1 3-2

Nerazzurri one goal away from 3800 milestone in Serie A

In 2289 Serie A matches, Inter have scored 3799 goals. The Nerazzurri's first goal in the Italian top flight was scored on 6 October 1929 (exactly 73 years ago this Sunday!) by Enrico Rivolta in Livorno 1-2 Inter.

Inter have scored in last 13 away matches

Inter have scored in 13 consecutive away matches. The last time the Nerazzurri failed to score on the road was on 17 November 2001 (Roma 0-0 Inter). Since that match, the Milanese side have notched up a total of 27 goals in the last 12 away matches of last season and the 1st of the current season in Reggio Calabria.

Piacenza haven't conceded a goal at home for 182 minutes

Piacenza haven't let in a goal at home since 21 April 2002, when Pavel Nedved scored an 88th-minute winner in Piacenza 0-1 Juventus. The 2 remaining minutes of that match plus Piacenza vs. Verona (last season) and Piacenza vs. Udinese (two weeks ago) mean the side from Emilia Romagna haven't let in a goal for 182 minutes.

Inter haven't won their opening 4 matches since 1997/98

Inter currently lead the Serie A with the maximum 9 points from 3 matches. If they win again away to Piacenza on Sunday, it will be the fourth season the Nerazzurri have won all four of their opening matches. On the three occasions they strung together four victories in a row at the start of a season (1960/61, 1966/67 and 1997/98), Inter finished 3rd, 2nd and 2nd. Juventus won all three of those championships.

wins(5) draws(1) defeats(2)

starting lineups

Guardalben 12 Fontana
Cristante 2 Cordoba
Lamacchi 13 Cannavaro
Mangone 15 Adani
Campagnaro 4 Zanetti
Riccio 25 Almeyda
Maresca 14 Di Biagio
Di Francesco 77 Coco
Tosto 10 Morfeo
Montano 20 Recoba
Hubner 9 Crespo

substitutes

Orlandoni Rossi Chauvenet
Boselli 26 Pasquale
Gourenko 31 Vivas
Marcolin 24 Gamarra
Caccia 21 Beati
Tramezzani 18 Dalmat
Obolo 30 Martins