Inter Milan threw away a chance to add distance with AC Milan and AS Roma, after they only managed to play a goalless draw against Genoa.

The match was held at the Giuseppe Meazza. Inter, who needed victory to strengthen their position at the top table, dominated ball possesion , 52 to 48 percent of Genoa’s. Soccernet data recorded 11 shots from Inter and only seven from Genoa.

Inter are now still four points ahead of Milan in the second position and seven from Roma who are in third place. Meanwhile Il Grifone are stuck in ninth position with 39 points.

Despite playing away, Genoa took the initiative to attack first. In the first eight minutes, Domenico Cristico and Salvatore Bochetti made some good scoring chances for Genoa, but none could beat Julio Cesar.

Inter had their chance in the 10th minute through by Sulley Muntari’s hard shot from outside the box but just couldn’t find the target. Ten minutes later Muntari saw his shot just wide.

Genoa got a another scoring opportunity in the 24th minute through David Suazo after receiving a pass from Alberto Zapater. However, the shot was blocked. Zapater’s long-distance shot in the 32nd minute once again was wide.

Dejan Stankovic almost beat Marco Amelia but his shot to the top right corner was blocked by the keeper. A minute later Wesley Sneijder failed to convert his chance into goal.

Six minutes after the break, Inter launched a counter-attack as Diego Milito went by two opposing players in the penalty box, but Milito shoots the ball wide.

In the 67th minute Samuel Eto’o assists meet Mario Balotelli in the Genoa defence area. Balotelli’s right footed shot was blocked well by Amelia.

There were not many chances created by both teams until the game ended in goalless draw.

Lineups:
Inter : 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, Lucio 6, 25 Samuel, 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic (Queresma 75 ‘), 11 Muntari (Cordoba 58′); 45 Balotelli, 10 Sneijder, 27 Pandev (Eto’o 58 ‘); Milito 22.

Genoa: 32 Amelia; 15 Papastathopoulos, 26 Bocchetti, 24 Moretti; 7 Rossi, 77 Milanetto, 21 Zapater, 4 Criscito; 14 Sculli (Palacio 61 ‘), 19 Suazo (Jankovic 52′) (Palladino 68 ‘), 20 Mesto.