Inter respond to Sampdoria surge

Having watched UC Sampdoria move into pole position in Serie A with a 4-1 win over Bologna FC, FC Internazionale Milano promptly re-established their supremacy by seeing off Calcio Catania 2-1.

Late scare
Inter's winless run in the UEFA Champions League extended to eight matches following Tuesday's 2-2 draw with FC Dynamo Kyiv, yet they have now won seven of their nine Serie A outings as they attempt to defend their title. Sulley Muntari got the ball rolling when his attempted pass to Samuel Eto'o found its way into the back of the net with 12 minutes on the clock and Wesley Sneijder followed suit on 31 minutes with a curling free-kick. That looked to have secured the points for the Nerazzurri, but they were given a scare six minutes from time when substitute Giuseppe Mascara converted from the spot after Júlio César had brought down Gianvito Plasmati.

Mannini double
José Mourinho's men ultimately held on to restore their two-point advantage over Sampdoria, who had temporarily taken over at the top thanks to four goals in the opening 33 minutes of their game. Wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, Giampaolo Pazzini was first to find the back of the net with just eight minutes gone, before Daniele Mannini volleyed in nine minutes later. Mannini also rounded off the home side's scoring when he headed in from an Antonio Cassano cross, after Reto Ziegler had struck from distance. Two minutes after the hour mark, Bologna's Pablo Daniel Osvaldo helped himself to a consolation effort.