Internazionale vs. Palermo

Mario Balotelli and a penalty from Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave the Nerazzurri the advantage at half-time, but two goals in three minutes brought a more determined Palermo level in the second half.

Edison Cavani scored first in the 73rd minute before Davide Succi brought the Rosanero level.

The Sicilians even had the better chances to win the game late on as they became only the fifth club to leave the San Siro with a point this season.

Palermo defender Moris Carrozzieri was given a torrid time by Inter forwards Ibrahimovic and Balotelli as the home side came out fighting.

Carrozzieri left Ibrahimovic onside in the 10th minute as the Swede reached Esteban Cambiasso's lofted ball forward, but his attempted lob over Marco Amelia missed the far post.

The Palermo defender then lost Balotelli five minutes later and the Inter striker showed no mercy as he headed Sulley Muntari's cross inside the near post to put the defending champions in front.

Balotelli missed the chance to make it two minutes later when he beat the offside trap and, like Ibrahimovic before him, went for the lob which cleared Amelia and the crossbar.

Once again, it was Carrozzieri who had played him on.

Inter were all over the Rosanero and Ibrahimovic, who had scored past Amelia six times in his last six games against the Italy international, tested him from a tight angle in the 19th minute.

It was not long before he made that seven goals against Amelia when he converted a rather dubious penalty which he himself earned for an innocuous challenge by Simon Kjaer.

However, the referee had failed to spot a clear penalty moments earlier when Muntari was fouled by Kjaer so justice was probably done. Muntari made a meal of his fall, perhaps convincing the referee not to give the spot-kick, even though he had clearly been obstructed.

Having created a two-goal cushion, Inter sat back and controlled the game up to half-time with Palermo lacking ideas to get back into the game.

Mark Bresciano came on for the Rosanero at the start of the second half and they looked transformed.

When Antonio Nocerino had to leave the field injured, Palermo coach Davide Ballardini sent on Succi as a third striker as the Sicilians went all or nothing.

And they almost got everything.

Bresciano beat Toldo with a dangerous volley in the 68th minute which flew just inches wide of the far post before the Inter goalkeeper tipped Fabrizio Miccoli's shot over the crossbar.

But he was beaten at his near post by Cavani in the 73rd minute as Palermo's courage was rewarded.

Miccoli created the chance for his strike-partner to net his 13th of the season and give the visitors hope.

Inter were stunned three minutes later when Succi stole in to equalise after Miccoli chased down a lost ball to square it for his team-mate for his second of the season.

Miccoli almost grabbed a spectacular winner as he dribbled his way through the Inter defence before shooting just wide, but Palermo would have been happy with the point which, given their second half performance, was more than deserved.