..::Football III::..

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Top form 1ke inne
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LVG ge experiment neh machan.anemanda owwa karanna gihin wenne performance adu wena 1ka

Ow machan Carrick injuredthawa 2 months wage play karanna bari wei

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eka thamayi LVG ikmanatama best xi hoyaganna wenawa naththam big matches kanawa

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Gotze: Bayern were determined to prove point

Two-goal hero Mario Gotze says that Bayern Munich's 4-0 victory over Paderborn on Tuesday makes amends for the frustrating stalemate at Hamburg last weekend.

Gotze opened the scoring after just eight minutes against the newly-promoted side at the Allianz Arena and scored Bayern's third goal after the break.Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller were also on the scoresheet for the defending champions, who moved to the top of the Bundesliga for the first time this season.

Gotze, 22, told the club's official website: "We were well prepared and determined to make amends for the last match. The three points are important, especially here at home."The German World Cup winner added: "I think we played pretty well, so all credit to the team. The early opening goal was important.

"We have lots of quality and we're looking forward to our forthcoming matches."
Bayern's next match is at FC Koln in the Bundesliga on Saturday, before Pep Guardiola's side travel to CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.

 

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Milan suffer Van Ginkel ankle ligament blow

AC Milan have confirmed that midfielder Marco Van Ginkel has suffered ankle ligament damage.

The Dutchman, who is on loan at the San Siro from Chelsea, made his Rossoneri debut in the 2-2 Serie A draw with Empoli on Tuesday night but lasted only 30 minutes.The 21-year-old was stretchered off at the Stadio Carlo Castellani with an ice pack strapped to his right ankle.

A statement from AC Milan read: "Marco van Ginkel has reported a sprain to his right ankle with the ligament involvement."The Italian club will carry out further tests on Wednesday to determine how long the former Vitesse man will be out of action.

Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi is already without injured midfield trio Michael Essien, Riccardo Saponara and Riccardo Montolivo.

Van Ginkel was hoping to get his career back on track in Milan after being sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury for much of last season.

He has made just four senior appearances for the Blues since joining the club from Vitesse Arnhem in July 2013.

 

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'Spiritual sacrifice' allegations are ludicrous, say Gyan family

The family of Asamoah Gyan has issued a statement to deny any involvement in the disappearance of rapper Castro and friend Janet Bandu.

Castro - real name Theophilus Tagoe - and Bandu are said to have gone missing while using jet skis during a holiday with Gyan's family at a resort in Ada, Ghana, in July.

No bodies were recovered following a search, prompting some media outlets to speculate over what might have happened to the pair, with some claims linking Al Ain frontman Gyan to an alleged "spiritual sacrifice".But a statement read out by lawyer Kissi Agyabeng on Wednesday on behalf of the Gyan family dismissed what he described as "absurd" and "ludicrous" allegations surrounding the Ghana captain.

"We have been silent while these wild allegations and rumours have been peddled in the media," it read. "We have been silent not because we are concealing anything or that we do not feel the need to fully state what, from our reckoning, had happened in Ada. We have been silent because we did not want to interfere with police investigations.

"In our painful silence, we have been totally dismayed by the fact that the platform was provided for the peddling of these wild and ludicrous allegations and rumours against us. Those to whom the platform was provided offered no evidence whatsoever to back their statements. And indeed, the allegation of spiritual sacrifice can by no stretch of the imagination be propped up."Perhaps we should have come out earlier. But I have already explained why we could not.

"Now, we take the opportunity and state without the slightest doubt in our minds that we are not blameable for the disappearance of Castro and Janet Bandu. We had no hand in that occurrence. We have no moral or legal culpability whatsoever.
"None of us rode out into the open estuary with Castro and Janet Bandu. Castro rode out there on his own volition and none of us have the slightest idea as to what happened to them.

"We have only been guess working and conjecturing and making what appears to us to be intelligent deductions – in light of the facts available to us, especially the fact that when they rode out on the jet ski Janet Bandu was not wearing a life jacket."We are in unimaginable pain and shock and we will give anything to [get] Castro and Janet back."

The family also appealed for a truce with the media, adding: "We are reaching out a friendly hand to journalists and the media. Please accept it. It is time to let the matter rest."

 

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Hughes: Stoke City can win League Cup

Mark Hughes has targeted the League Cup as a chance to bring some silverware to Stoke City after their third-round win over Sunderland.

Marc Muniesa's double was enough to seal a 2-1 win at the Stadium of Light as the visitors came from behind to progress.

Hughes revealed that success in the competition is one of Stoke's top priorities this season as they look to emulate the club's only previous triumph in 1971-72.

Stoke reached the quarter-finals last season before being knocked out by Manchester United and the Welshman hopes to build on Tuesday's win to go a couple of steps further.

"It has been something we have talked about prior to the season starting and we are making good progress," he said.

"We are only in three competitions and realistically we can only win two of them, so we wanted to try to do our best in this one.

"It was not an easy draw for us, being away at a Premier League ground, so to come here [and win] is important given the draw last time out, a lot of Premier League teams coming up against each other.

"So we are grateful that we are in the hat because a number of Premier League teams will go out before the draw is made.

"Everybody knows that you need a little bit of luck in cup competitions, that's a given, but if we can approach games and take games away from good teams then we have got a chance."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Keylor Navas vows to push Casillas

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas vowed to push Iker Casillas for the No.1 spot after making his debut in Tuesday's 5-1 win over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Navas, who made an €11.2 million move from La Liga rivals Levante in August, was handed his first start ahead of first choice keeper Casillas.The 27-year-old Costa Rica international made two saves during the match, but could not prevent Elche's Edu Albacar scoring from the penalty spot to give the visitors the lead.

However, four goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one from Gareth Bale secured a comfortable win for Carlo Ancelotti's side.Navas, who played in all five games as Costa Rica reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup, told the club's official website : "Playing at this stadium is a privilege. It's something very special and something I'd always wanted.

"I come away from tonight a happy man, because the team won. We're picking up points and we have to continue in this vein."I'm learning a lot in this team, today I took a very special step in my career."I hope to continue in this vein and make the most of the minutes I get and help the team to win."

But Navas knows he has much work to do in order to become the regular number one at the Bernabeu.He said: "You have to work hard in every training session to make it difficult for the coach when he makes his decision.

"Casillas has an impressive track record at Real Madrid."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

I went mad after my debut Liverpool goal, admits Rossiter

Jordan Rossiter admits he "went mad" after scoring a dream debut goal for Liverpool in their League Cup win over Middlesbrough.

Rossiter fired the ball under Jamal Blackman from 30 yards to put Liverpool ahead at Anfield and become the club's second youngest scorer ever at just 17 years and 183 days old, behind only Michael Owen.

Brendan Rodgers' side eventually overcame their spirited Championship opponents 14-13 in a marathon penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in normal time, and afterwards Rossiter reflected on his special moment.

"I couldn't have dreamed of that. I can't even remember what I did when I scored. I just went mad a bit," he told Sky Sports.

"I am still young and looking to build on that performance. Hopefully I can do that in the future."

Meanwhile a relieved Simon Mignolet - who scored his own spot-kick - admitted he had never witnessed anything like what became the longest shootout in League Cup history.

The Belgian added: "No, not [a penalty shootout] that long. I have obviously done a few in pre-season and I think the lads have practised them really well.

"You always want to progress. We have done that and that is the main thing. We wanted to finish it earlier but we got the result we wanted and that's all that mattered."

 

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Torres will score plenty for Milan, says Essien

Michael Essien is confident that Fernando Torres will become a major hit at AC Milan and expects the Spaniard to score a lot of goals at the San Siro side.

The 30-year-old joined the Serie A side on loan from Chelsea and opened his Milan account in the 2-2 draw with Empoli on Tuesday evening.Essien has little doubt that there's more to come from the Spain international."I am convinced we'll see lots of goals from Fernando," Essien told the official Fifa website.

"I really hope he does well for Milan and for himself because he's a top striker and we'll benefit from his goals."He's a hard worker both in games and in training and that can also serve him well at Milan. One thing Milan can expect to see is 100 per cent all the time from him."

Essien and Torres are two of a four Chelsea players at the Serie A outfit, with Alex and Marco van Ginkel having played for the Blues in the past as well, and he hopes they can replicate the Premier League side's success at Milan.

"Of course it’s nice to have them all here. They are some of the nicest people you will meet in football and we always talk about our days at Chelsea.
"Hopefully we can bring some of the Chelsea glory days to Milan."

 

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Wenger: Mertesacker and Gibbs will be fit for Tottenham clash

Arsene Wenger said he expects Per Mertesacker and Kieran Gibbs to return for Arsenal in Saturday's north London derby clash with Tottenham, despite missing Tuesday's League Cup defeat to Southampton.

Minor problems saw Mertesacker and Gibbs miss the cup clash with Saints, forcing Wenger to name an inexperienced defence that included 19-year-olds Hector Bellerin and Isaac Hayden.

Nacho Monreal's continued absence meant Calum Chambers was the only regular starter named by the Frenchman but the youngster had only made seven previous appearances since joining from Southampton.

Arsenal's young side were beaten 2-1 by Ronald Koeman's men but Wenger said he is confident his experienced duo of Mertesacker and Gibbs will be fit to face Spurs on Saturday.

"They will be alright," Wenger said of the defensive duo. "We are a bit short, yes, because of the injuries we have. Gibbs had a little hamstring problem and we could not play him.

"Mertesacker is a bit on the edge, and then we have no choice."

Wenger's options in defence were further reduced on Monday when France international Mathieu Debuchy was ruled out for three months following surgery on his left ankle.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ronaldo could have scored six, says Arbeloa

Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa says Cristiano Ronaldo was "unbelievable" in his four-goal haul in Tuesday's 5-1 win over Elche, but feels the attacker could have scored even more.

The Portugal international was the star of the show at the Santiago Bernabeu as he led his side to victory, taking his tally to nine goals in four league appearances in 2014-15.

And Arbeloa has nothing but praise for the former Manchester United star.
"We kept calm, we were patient and we had Cristiano Ronaldo in terrific form," Arbeloa told the official Madrid website."What he's done is unbelievable. He has scored four goals, but he could have scored six."

Arbeloa then looked ahead to this weekend's match against Villarreal and stressed that a tough test awaits."It'll be very difficult. They have a very good team and the match there is going to be a test of our level.

"They have a great coach, they play good football and we're going to have to put in a real shift to get the win there."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Juventus debt rises to €206 million

Juventus have announced that their net debt has risen from €160.3 million to €206m after releasing their financial report over 2013-14.

This increase is due to payments made in transfer campaigns (€46.1m), advances paid to the city of Turin and various suppliers for the Continassa project (€5.5m), investments in other fixed assets (€6.7m) and cash flow from financing activities (€7.5m), partially offset by positive cash flow from operations (€20.1m).

The Turin side closed the 2013-14 financial year with a loss of €6.7m, representing €9.2m less than the loss of €15.9m in the previous financial year.Juventus saw revenue grow by €32m from €283.8m to €315.8m, an 11.3 per cent rise, while operating costs went up by 8.6% to €246.6m.

The draft financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2014 will be submitted for approval at the shareholders’ meeting called for 24 October 2014 at the Juventus Stadium.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp backs Guardiola: Players should be protected

Borussia Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp has backed Pep Guardiola's stance that the busy calendar is hurting players' health.

The Bayern Munich trainer stated earlier this week that the hectic schedule of modern day football is "killing the players" and Klopp has now warned that players will be forced to retire in their early 30s if the situation doesn't change."In 10 years' time, there will no longer be any players who keep playing until they turn 35," Klopp was quoted as saying by Bild.

"Former players in influential positions seem to have forgotten how hard it was during their active career. We have to get back to how things were before."We will have a European Championship with 24 teams in 2016 because some people seem to like the idea. For the players, this doesn't make much sense..."

Klopp also had his say on the fitness situation of Mats Hummels and expects him to return against Stuttgart in Bundesliga on Wednesday.

Hummels is yet to feature for Dortmund due to muscular problems, but the 25-year-old has stepped up his recovery in recent weeks and Dortmund are set to receive a boost with the defender on track to make his comeback."It looks good for Mats Hummels. He is practising without any problems.

"We have to decide how much intensive training is necessary. He was on vacation, practised two weeks, had to pause for 12 or 13 days because he had some smaller problems. But since then he is back in training.

"Given our situation [in the league] there is a big possibility that Mats will be in the squad. But he will not play from the beginning or for 90 minutes."If we had to substitute him in, that would not be a problem because he has got no issues."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rooney: Don't write off Manchester United

Wayne Rooney is adamant that Manchester United will enjoy a successful season despite their disappointing start.

United's Premier League campaign plummed new depths on Sunday when they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 5-3 against newly-promoted Leicester City.

It left Louis van Gaal's men languishing in 12th position with just one win from their first five matches, despite having enjoyed a relatively reasonable run of fixtures on paper.

However, captain Rooney took to Facebook to fire back at United's critics on Tuesday, believing there is enough quality to enjoy a change in fortunes.

"There seems to be a lot of people who have written us off because of Sunday's result but I don't see it that way," Rooney wrote on his page.

"When I look around our dressing room and see the quality we have and the manager's unbelievable attention to detail I have no doubts this team will be successful."

United welcome West Ham at Old Trafford on Saturday as they bid to get their Premier League campaign back on track.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Come home Ronaldo' - Manchester United fans to fly flag during Real Madrid game

A banner urging Cristiano Ronaldo to return "home" to Manchester United will be flown over El Madrigal when Real Madrid play Villarreal.

The Portugal forward has been linked with a move back to Old Trafford and one United fans' group is doing its bit to make it happen with a banner which will read: 'Come home Ronaldo - United Reel'.

United Reel, which describes itself as an organisation for "die hard Manchester United fans from every corner of the globe", has raised the funds ahead of Real's La Liga match at Villarreal on Saturday.

"United Reel has active supporters on every continent of the world and we are all united by our love for Cristiano both as a footballer and as a person," the statement read.

"We stand united in our views and we won't step until we bring Ronaldo home."

Rumours of Ronaldo's unrest at Santiago Bernabeu intensified when ex-Real president Ramon Calderon claimed that the 29-year-old was disillusioned with life at the club and unhappy with Florentino Perez.

However, Ronaldo spoke out after Tuesday's 5-1 win over Elche - in which he scored four goals - to dismiss any rumours that he was looking for a transfer away from the European champions.

"It's all speculation, speaking about my future … my future is Madrid. I'm happy," he said in quotes reported by AS.

"The season is going well and I'm not talking about my future, it doesn't make sense."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

injured nae machan. Saturday North London derby eka nisa thamayi play karawanna naththe

Ow meh machan Tottenhan match 1ka SatuardayKiyana widiyata Mertesacker & Gibbs 2nnatama play karanna puluwan wei​

 

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Swansea or Southampton dinai kiyala mama hithanne Liverpool la geth back line eka echchara hoda nae .Chelsea,City unath 1st stages wala full strength team eka danne naene.knockout wenna chance ekak thyenawa

Ow machan 1kath attha thamaiSwansea & Southampton hodata play karanawa meh tikeDan thiyana Chelsea & Bolton match 1keth Chelsea hodama sqaud 1ka newei dala thiyenne.Youngstars latath chance 1ka deela thiyenne habai compatible​

 

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eka thamayi LVG ikmanatama best xi hoyaganna wenawa naththam big matches kanawa

Anemanda machan next Saturday thiyenne West Ham match 1ka.1kath mona karaganida danne nahaLesi wenne naha 1kath.Dakkane Liverpool lata gahapu gahilla

Okkomata kalin kiwwath wage hodama squad 1ka hoyaganna one & anith 1ka thamai players la play karawanna one egollange purudu places wala nathuwa experiment karanna giyoth wenne kanna wena 1ka thamai bro​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Malaga 0-0 Barcelona: Messi made to wait for 400-mark as Luis Enrique's side stumble

Lionel Messi was made to wait for his 400th senior career goal as Malaga held Barcelona to a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.Luis Enrique's men came into the fixture at La Rosaleda having won all four of their opening league fixtures without conceding a single goal.

And, while the Catalan outfit were able to preserve that impressive defensive record, a failure to turn possession into goals will disappoint their coach.Jordi Alba proved to be a constant menace down the left in the first half, but the visitors were unable to make the most of his repeated dangerous deliveries.

Claudio Bravo pushed a Luis Alberto freekick onto the post midway through the second half, and Barca held on for what eventually turned out to be a hard-fought point.The result sees Barcelona, who had won the last 12 league meetings between the sides, remain top on goal difference from Sevilla, while Malaga maintain their record of having not conceded at home this season.

Luis Enrique continued to rotate his defence by bringing Gerard Pique, Marc Bartra and debutant Douglas in for Javier Mascherano, Jeremy Mathieu and Dani Alves following the 5-0 demolition of Levante on Sunday, while Neymar was fit to start after recovering from an ankle injury.Barca applied the early pressure and Malaga defender Sergio Sanchez did well to thwart threatening crosses from Pedro and Ivan Rakitic, but Bravo had to be alert at the other end to get his body behind a drilled effort from Nordin Amrabat.

The half continued at a frantic pace and Messi - chasing his 400th senior goal for club and country - curled a free kick from 20 yards over the crossbar, before Pedro diverted just wide from an Alba cross.

Having seen close-season signing Luis Suarez score twice for Barcelona B in a friendly against an Indonesia XI earlier in the day, the visitors' starting attackers might have been feeling the pressure to perform ahead of the Uruguayan's October return from suspension, and Messi should arguably have done better when he chested wide from another Alba ball into the area.

Barca were dominating possession, but a failure to truly challenge Malaga goalkeeper Carlos Kameni saw them enter the break without finding the net, despite Alba's effervescent running down the left wing.Luis Enrique wore a stern expression on the touchline as Malaga continued to frustrate their visitors at the start of the second half.

Bartra headed narrowly wide from a corner on the hour mark, before Neymar's match came to an end when he was replaced by Munir El Haddadi on 64 minutes.
Roberto Rosales' drilled effort shortly afterwards drifted wide, but served as a reminder of Malaga's attacking threat, and Luis Alberto's free kick – palmed onto the post by Bravo – reaffirmed that point.

Malaga captain Weligton was perhaps lucky not to escape harsher punishment as he was shown a yellow card for grabbing Messi's face in a late scuffle.But 0-0 is how it would remain, as Luis Enrique suffered his first minor setback since taking the reins at Camp Nou.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Caen 0-2 Paris Saint-Germain: Lucas & Marquinhos seal win for champions

Lucas Moura hit back at his critics in style and relieved the pressure on PSG boss Laurent Blanc, inspiring a 2-0 win at Caen.PSG had drawn their three previous matches amid their worst start to a season since being taken over by the Qatar Investment Authority, but victory at the Stade Michel d'Ornano on Wednesday lifted them to second in Ligue 1, three points behind Marseille.

Along with Blanc, Moura has shouldered a significant amount of the scrutiny at the Parc des Princes so far this season, with former team-mate Jeremy Menez launching a stinging attack on the Brazilian on Tuesday.But the diminutive playmaker slalomed past two opponents to give his side a first-half lead, before Marquinhos headed home the second after the break to settle the issue.

Injured duo Felipe Saad and Emmanuel Imorou missed out for Caen, while suspension and a heel problem respectively kept PSG pair Marco Verratti and Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the sidelines.The latter's absence enabled Edinson Cavani to operate in his preferred central striker's role, and the big Uruguayan had the game's first opportunity early on.

Gregory van der Wiel cleverly worked his way down the right and crossed towards Cavani, who got in front of his marker but could only head straight at goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre.Ezequiel Lavezzi hobbled off after 13 minutes, with 21-year-old Jean-Christophe Bahebeck replacing him, but that blow was soon soothed by a PSG goal.

Lucas received a Javier Pastore pass on the edge of the Caen box, employed rapid footwork to dribble past two opponents and slammed the ball into the back of the net from 10 yards.PSG continued to dominate possession, but they were given a wake-up call 10 minutes before the break.

Julien Feret controlled the ball on his chest and volleyed a cushioned pass into the path of Jordan Adeoti, whose fierce drive from the edge of the box was tipped over by Salvatore Sirigu.A Cavani dummy then set up Bahebeck, who failed to keep his strike down, before Vercoutre's legs repelled Lucas' shot.

Cavani had the final two chances of the half. First, his left-footed drive failed to trouble the Caen goalkeeper. Then, after a sublime piece of skill, the 27-year-old fired wide from close range.

Caen spurned a glaring chance to equalise within a few minutes of the restart.A Herve Bazile cross from the left looped over Sirigu and found Mathieu Duhamel unmarked at the back post, but the 30-year-old somehow headed wide.Bazile’s powerful shot from distance then forced Sirigu into a fine save, but just as Caen were gaining momentum, PSG doubled their lead.

Pastore whipped in a corner and though Ngolo Kante tried to clear Marquinhos' firm, downward header off the line, he only succeeded in diverting it into the roof of the net.Marquinhos almost made it 3-0 with a header from another corner soon afterwards, but his effort went narrowly over.Caen substitute Bengali-Fode Koita fired just wide from distance, before Duhamel's composure deserted him when well-placed.

Lucas went off to grand applause from the visiting supporters after 78 minutes, his contribution ultimately decisive.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter 2-0 Atalanta: Hernanes stunner seals maximum points for Mazzarri's men

Inter secured a 2-0 win over Atalanta on Tuesday courtesy of a first-half wondergoal from Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and a brilliant late strike from Hernanes.

Osvaldo, who replaced the injured Mauro Icardi after 25 minutes, found the net from 10 yards with a superb scissor-kick from Fredy Guarin's freekick after Rodrigo Palacio had missed a penalty and Nemanja Vidic was denied by the woodwork at San Siro.And another substitute, Hernanes, added a second when he curled in a free kick with four minutes remaining to leave Inter with two wins and two draws from their first four Serie A games of the new campaign.

The result also represents a first defeat for Atalanta against Inter since April 2010 and means they have now lost their last two league matches.The Inter home crowd have been spoilt so far this season, with two home games yielding 13 unanswered goals, including a 7-0 drubbing of Sassuolo in their only Serie A game at San Siro earlier this month.

However, a 1-1 draw with Palermo on Sunday left Inter coach Walter Mazzarri to bemoan a lack of sharpness from his forwards.

Mazzarri's solution was to draft in Inter's top-scorer for the last two seasons, Palacio, for his first start of the campaign following an injury he suffered at this year's World Cup, and also switched to a back three with Jonathan and Dodo starting as wing-backs.

Palacio, who played the last 11 minutes of Sunday's game, had two glorious opportunities to open the scoring for Inter in the first half, but he was denied both times by superb saves from Marco Sportiello.

First, the striker was put through on goal only to see his shot parried by Sportiello and then, after Andrea Ranocchia was bundled over by Yohan Benalouane in the penalty area, the goalkeeper produced an even better diving save to push away the Argentine's spot-kick.

Inter, who also hit the post in the first half through a stooping Vidic header, were seemingly dealt a blow when Icardi, who scored a hat-trick against Sassuolo, departed injured.However, it was his replacement, on-loan Southampton forward Osvaldo, who finally gave Inter a 40th-minute lead with a superb scissor-kick from Guarin's delivery.

Inter continued to dominate after the break, but struggled to add to their lead.
Palacio came close to another goal, but it summed up his evening when his angled shot from inside the box came back off the foot of the post.

The visitors almost made Inter pay for their wastefulness when Marcelo Estigarribia headed his side's best chance of the game just a yard wide at the back post in the 70th minute before Hernanes' free kick – awarded for a foul on Osvaldo on the edge of the box - wrapped up the points.