Final score

20 September 2011 20:45

Novara
46' (2nd half) Rigoni
41' (2nd half) Rigoni (P)
38' Meggiorini
3 - 1
Inter
44' (2nd half) Cambiasso
Referee: Mauro Bergonzi / Linesmen: Niccolai, Barbirati / Fourth official: Gervasoni
Watch highlights
Minute Text commentary
46' The first half of Novara v Inter ends with the hosts leading 1-0 thanks to a strike by ex-Inter player Meggorini
45' Bergonzi signals a minute of added time
45' Julio Cesar saves Radovanovic's central shot
41' Forlan whips in a low cross from the left. Ujkani collects the ball with Milito lurking
38' GOAL FOR NOVARA. MEGGIORNI SCORES. The home side break forward and from the left wing Mazzarini plays the ball inside for Meggorini, who finishes with a left-foot shot
37' Sneijder's shot takes a deflection and Ujkani makes a safe catch
32' Inter's corner: Paci risks giving away a penalty by visibly holding and tugging at Ranocchia's shirt
31' Forlan's right-footed effort is deflected behind for a corner
30' Sneijder picks out Milito in the middle of a crowded box: his shot is charged down by Gemiti
28' Chivu is shown a yellow card
26' Rigoni picks out Mazzarani, who goes down in the box. No penalty there
25' Zanetti shuts out Gemiti
23' Meggiorni is offside
22' Sneijder has a go from distance: over the bar
19' Porcari looks to play Meggiorini in behind the back line, Ranocchia sweeps up
16' Julio Cesar and Mazzarini clash in the box, with the keeper getting the ball clear
15' A superb piece of skill by Meggiorini from Rigoni's cross, but the ex-Nerazzurri player's acrobatic effort is off target
13' With one touch Milito brings down a high ball and lays off for Forlan on the edge of the box. The Uruguayan swings at it first time but his effort spins away wide to the right
9' Inter create their first opening: Castaignos feeds Milito, and the Argentine lays off for Sneijder. The Dutchman has a dig - wide
5' Julio Cesar clearly has a problem with his right eye and Castellazzi is warming up
3' From the following corner Paci almost breaks the deadlock: with Chivu makes a crucial clearance off the line
2' Julio Cesar took that ball straight in the face from point-blank range. He stays on the ground for a while, receives treatment, then gets up again looking rather shell-shocked
1' Welcome to the Stadio Silvio Piola, where we're all set for Novara v Inter
1' Novara have begun this game on the attack. Julio Cesar spreads himself well to block Meggiorini's close-range effort after Chivu failed to clear properly
1' Novara get the game under way and we're off. FORZA INTER!!!
1' This is the first time Inter have played Novara in Serie A since the 1955/56 season
1' Four in midfield today, Zanetti, Cambiasso, Sneijder and Nagatomo, and a three-pronged attack: Forlan, Milito and Castaignos
1' Gasperini sticks with the 3-man defence against Novara: Lucio, Chivu and Ranocchia in front of Julio Cesar
Minute Text commentary
48' After three minutes of stoppage time, Novara v Inter finishes 3-1
46' GOAL FOR NOVARA: RIGONI collects Morimoto's ball inside the box and puts it past Julio Cesar
45' There will be 3 minutes of added time
44' GOAL FOR INTER: Cambiasso the scorer. Novara half-clear a cross and it falls for the Argentine, who makes no mistake
41' GOAL FOR NOVARA. RIGONI converts the spot kick
40' Ranocchia is shown a red card after tangling with Morimoto in the area. Novara have a penalty too
39' Lucio is booked
37' Zarate finds Cambiasso on the edge of the box but the veteran can't control it
33' Jeda puts Morimoto through on goal and as he bears down on Julio Cesar Zanetti gets back to clear
32' Ranocchia comes back onto the pitch but he's still hobbling
31' Chance for Inter as Cambiasso finds Pazzini. The striker's first touch is good but he drags his shot wide
30' Ranocchia hobbles off with an ankle problem
27' Julio Cesar pushes a venomous drive by Giorgi over the bar
25' Another useful ball in by Nagatomo, this time for Cambiasso. Dellafiore does well to put it behind for a corner
24' Lisuzzo beats Milito to the ball after the Argentine was picked out by Nagatomo
22' Mazzarani is replaced by Jeda for Novara
22' Inter's final substitution: Zarate comes on for Sneijder
19' Chivu covers clears as Giorgi threatens
19' Another change for Novara: Radovanovic makes way for Marianini
17' The ref may as well keep that book his hand: this time it's Obi's name added for a foul as Novara looked to break
17' Novara substitution: Giorgi replaces Meggiorini
16' Dellafiore is booked
16' Pazzini is also shown a yellow
13' Following a corner, Porcari volleys goalwards; Chivu puts it over the bar
12' Gemiti's cross for Meggiorni is cleared by Ranocchia
11' Inter have a free kick. Sneijder looks to pick out Pazzin but Ujkani comes out to beat him to it
9' Obi crosses from the left. Ujkani is alert and makes a high catch
8' Novara have a great chance as Mazzarani is through with just Julio Cesar to beat. The Nerazzurri keeper spreads himself out and blocks the shot
7' Cambiasso finds Milito in the box, Dellafiore closes him down but the whistle has already gone for offside
6' Morimoto goes for goal. No problem for Julio Cesar
3' From out on the right, Nagatomo tries to curl one in at the far post. Wide, but not by much
1' The second half begins between Novara and Inter
1' Gasperini has made two changes during the interval: Obi and Pazzini come on for Forlan and Castaignos
Zanetti
4.34
4.34
Cambiasso
3.81
3.81
Julio Cesar
4.76
4.76
Chivu
3.35
3.35
Milito
2.99
2.99
Obi
3.76
3.76
Lucio
3.32
3.32
Sneijder
4.47
4.47
Ranocchia
3.86
3.86
Pazzini
3.86
3.86
Nagatomo
4.08
4.08
Castaignos
3.18
3.18
Forlan
3.25
3.25
Zarate
3.78
3.78
Average rating 3.77
10 shots on target 3
2 shots off target 6
9 fouls committed 11
5 corners 5
3 offsides 3
36% ball possession 64%
Tesser v Gasperini

Tesser was victorious in his only previous match-up with Gasperini: on 30 October 2004, his Triestina side overcame Gasperini's Crotone 1-0 at the Stadio Nereo Rocco.

Tesser v Inter

The only time Tesser has faced Inter as a coach was on 5 November 2006 when Ascoli, with Gasperini at the helm, lost 2-0 at the San Siro.

Gasperini v Novara

Gian Piero Gasperini is facing Novara for the first time as coach.

Novara: one defeat in 57 home games

Novara have lost just one of their last 25 home games in competitive fixtures: that was on 29 May 2010 when, in Serie B, they were beaten 2-3 by Modena. In the other 24 games in that period they have had 14 wins and 10 draws.

Tesser seeking first win in Serie A

This is Attilio Tesser's third crack at the top flight after the negative experiences with Cagliari (2005/06) and Ascoli (2006/07). In the 14 games in charge of the three clubs in Serie A, Tesser has never won: 5 draws and 9 defeats.

Zanetti re-writing Nerazzurri history

If he plays today, Javier Zanetti will make his 757th appearance in a competitive fixture in Italy - all in Nerazzurri colours. If that happens, the Argentine will have made more appearances than any other player in Nerazzurri history as he surpasses Giuseppe Bergomi on 576 appearances. His 756 appearances to date are divided as follows: 538 in Serie A, 64 in the Coppa Italia, 141 in European competition and 13 in other tournaments. Zanetti made his competitive debut for Inter on 27 August on 1995: Inter 1-0 Vicenza (Serie A).

Finally back in Serie A

After two away games, and because of the postponement of the Week 1 fixtures, when Novara where due to host Palermo at the Stadio Piola on 28 August, this will be Novara's first home match in Serie A in 55 years. Their last game was on 3 June 1956, Novara 1-2 Torino.

Inter goalless for 180 minutes

Inter's last goal came on 11 September when they lost 4-3 away to Palermo. Forlan scored the third goal after 90 minutes. In the two matches since then, against Trabzonspor (0-1 defeat in the Champions League) and Roma (0-0 in Serie A), the Nerazzurri have drawn blanks for 180 minutes.

DA IMPLEMENTARE
wins(9) draws(5) defeats(4)

starting lineups

Ujkani 1 Julio Cesar
Dellafiore 6 Lucio
Paci 26 Chivu
Lisuzzo 23 Ranocchia
Gemiti 4 Zanetti
Porcari 19 Cambiasso
Radovanovic 10 Sneijder
Rigoni 55 Nagatomo
Mazzarani 9 Forlan
Morimoto 22 Milito
Meggiorini 30 Castaignos

substitutes

Fontana 12 Castellazzi
Giorgi 7 Pazzini
Ludi 20 Obi
Morganella 25 Samuel
Marianini 28 Zarate
Granoche 29 Coutinho
Jeda 42 Jonathan