This will be the first official meeting between Giuseppe Iachini and Leonardo as coaches. As players the came up against each other twice, in the games between Iachini's Venezia and Leonardo, playing for AC Milan. 2-0 to AC Milan at Stadio Sant'Elena in Serie A 1998/99 (when the Brazilian scored the Rossoneri's second goal) and then 3-0 at San Siro in Serie A 1999/00.

This is the first time Leonardo has come up against Brescia in an official match as coach, while he has played against them 3 times wearing an AC Milan shirt and at San Siro. One of these matches was a win for AC Milan, the other two were draws, so he has never been beaten by them. The victory, which was AC Milan 2-1 Brescia on 9 November 1997, was sealed by a brace from the Brazilian in the 7th and 25th minutes, and was one of the two games in which he scored two in our championship.

This is Iachini's second official match against Inter as a coach. The first was the 1-1 draw in the first part of the Serie A 2010/11 season played at the Stadio Meazza on 6 November last.

Brescia fall to pieces in the second half of the matches they play. They are the team in Serie A 2010/11 which have lost most points in the second half, 18. Inter, on the other hand, is the team which have picked up most points in the second half, compared to the score at the interval: 19 points to date.

Brescia are the team in Serie A 2010/11 who have picked up most yellow cards, with 72 in 28 matches. Whereas Inter have had the lowest number with only 44 from 28 games.

Inter are one of the five goal cooperatives in Serie A 2010/11 along with Genoa, Lecce, AC Milan, and Roma having 13 different players on the scoresheet: Cambiasso, Chivu, Eto’o, Kharja, Lucio, Milito, Muntari, Nagatomo, Pandev, Pazzini, Sneijder, Stankovic and Thiago Motta.

Inter haven't drawn for 17 matches now, putting together a series of 12 wins (4 of which in their last 4 matches) and 5 defeats. Their last draw dates back to 10 November last, 1-1 against Lecce. Leonardo hasn't drawn in the Italian league for 18 matches. He has won 13 times and lost 5. His last draw was AC Milan 2-2 Catania, in April 2010.

If Antonio Filippini plays today he will be celebrating 300 appearances in Serie A. The first of his 299 games, which he played for Brescia, Lazio, Treviso and Livorno, goes back to 31 August 1997: Inter 2-1 Brescia.

Giuseppe Iachini is 1 draw short of 100, in his professional career as a coach. The first of these draws, which he collected at the helm of Venezia, Cesena, Vicenza, Piacenza, Chievo Verona and Brescia, came on 21 August 2002 in Cesena 1-1 Rimini in Coppa Italia, Serie C. The draws are thus divided: 10 in Serie A, 72 in Serie B, 11 in Serie C-1, 2 in Coppa Italia in C, and 2 in other tournaments. Completing the tally of his 338 official appearances on the bench, he has marked up 134 wins and 105 defeats.

BRESCIA – The spoils were shared in this evening's Serie A 2010/11 Week 29 fixture between Brescia and Inter, which finished 1-1.

There were mixed emotions before kick-off, as the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of Italian Unification were contrasted by the black armbands worn by both sides in a gesture of solidarity towards the Japanese people caught up in the aftermath of today's tragedy in Japan. And there were plenty of emotions during the game too: after giving Inter the lead in the 18th minute, Eto'o ran over to his team-mate Nagatomo to dedicate the goal to him and his homeland; Sneijder struck the post; Arcari repeatedly denied Inter (Pandev in particular); and in a grand finale Julio Cesar saved a 90th minute penalty from Caracciolo, minutes after the striker had headed the home side level.

FIRST HALF – Leonardo decided to reward Pandev for his recent performances with a starting berth, meaning Kharja dropped to the bench, and the Macedonian took his place on the right of an attack-minded trio that included Sneijder and Eto'o behind Pazzini, who has never scored against Brescia. The Italian striker was no doubt hoping to impress national coach Cesare Prandelli, whom the TV cameras focused on in the crowd as the national anthem rang around the stadium before kick-off. Hatemaj's 5th-minute volley – which ended high - was Brescia's first demonstration of attacking intent. That was quickly followed by a short corner and Zebina's double effort, which forced Pazzini to put behind for another corner. The home side came forward again on 9 minutes: first Caracciolo's header was caught confidently by Julio Cesar and then Diamanti fired a shot just wide. Inter's immediate reply came in the form of a powerful, but off-target, effort from Sneijder. Three minutes later Nagatomo embarked on a determined foray forward, taking on Zambelli and Zebina before trying to beat Arcari at his near post, but the Brescia keeper pushed his shot round the post. Inter continued to grow in stature and took a deserved lead after 18 minutes: Sneijder's corner was nodded goalwards by Ranocchia and Eto'o stabbed home from close range to make it 31 goals for the season. The Cameroonian then ran over to Japanese team-mate Nagatomo and dedicated the goal to him. Caracciolo almost pulled Brescia level on 35 minutes, after he picked up Konè's ball and tried to lob Julio Cesar, but his effort sailed over the bar. In the 42nd minute, Zebina made a crucial intervention when Pandev was through on goal. That was the last chance of the half, which drew to a close after a minute's added time with the Nerazzurri in the lead by a goal to nothing.

SECOND HALF – Brescia started the second half on the attack and with Caracciolo seemingly determined to get his side back in the game: a minute into the half he headed over; then in the 50th minute he muscled his way towards goal, getting the better of Ranocchia, before poking a shot towards Julio Cesar's near post from close range, which fortunately the Brazilian was alert to. Five minutes later Sneijder was unlucky when a curler from long range came back off the post. Arcari came to Brescia's rescue on 63 minutes when he denied Pandev, who had shown great class to control Pazzini's ball. Il Pazzo made way for Kharja after 70 minutes and a minute later Sneijder was again frustrated, as Arcari blocked his firm drive from a central position. In the 77th minute Brescia claimed a penalty for a handball by Nagatomo, but the Japanese full-back was holding his arm to his body and he was very close when Konè played his cross. On 80 minutes Pandev again found himself one-on-one with the Brescia keeper, who closed the angle and managed to keep out the Macedonian's attempted chip. With six minutes remaining the home side found a leveller: from Diamanti's corner, Cordoba headed back towards his own goal and the big striker directed it into the back of Inter's net. If anyone thought Brescia might be happy with a point, they were wrong: in the 89th minute Eder was bearing down on goal when Cordoba's body got caught up with his opponent's just inside the box, and Rocchi decreed a red card and a penalty. Julio Cesar's fantastic save from Caracciolo's spot-kick left the big striker staring in disbelief but his evening got worse in the final seconds of added time, when he was sent off after collecting a second yellow for an unnecessary tug on Sneijder.

Brescia v Inter thus ended 1-1 and the Nerazzurri now sit second in the table on 57 points.

Brescia 1-1 Inter
Scorers: 18 Eto'o, 84 Caracciolo

Brescia: 1 Arcari; 5 Zebina, 6 Bega, 2 Zoboli; 15 Zambelli (61, 7 Eder), 33 Koné, 8 Vass (83, 36 Lanzafame), 56 Hetemaj, 28 Berardi (25, 3 Daprelà); 32 Diamanti, 9 Caracciolo.
Unused subs: 22 Sereni, 16 Mareco, 17 Baiocco, 18 Possanzini.
Coach: Giuseppe Iachini

Inter: 1 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 6 Lucio (65, 2 Cordoba), 15 Ranocchia, 55 Nagatomo (78, 23 Materazzi); 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic; 27 Pandev, 10 Sneijder, 9 Eto'o; 7 Pazzini (70, 14 Kharja).
Unused subs: 12 Castellazzi, 17 Mariga, 20 Obi, 29 Coutinho.
Coach: Leonardo

Referee: Gianluca Rocchi (Florence)
Booked: 27 Daprelà, 39 Zebina, 43 and 90+4 Caracciolo, 52 Maicon, 55 Konè, 83 Hetemaj
Sent off: 89 Cordoba, 90+4 Caracciolo
Added time: 1 + 4 minutes

starting lineups

substitutes