Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Lokomotiv Moscow in Champions League Group B on Wednesday after a goal from Dmitry Loskov cancelled out Alvaro Recoba's first-half opener for the Italians.

It was another below-par display from Inter who suffered a 3-0 loss to the Russians in Moscow two weeks ago.

Although the result left Inter still top of the group on seven points, ahead of Dynamo Kiev who lost 1-0 at Arsenal, qualification for the knock-out stage is still in the balance for last season's beaten semi-finalists.

Lokomotiv, who have five points, are still in the hunt and showed why they could still advance from a tight group with another fine performance.

The Russians were far more mobile and moved the ball around the field with greater ease than their Serie A opponents who were reduced to infrequent bursts forward.

Inter coach Alberto Zaccheroni has instilled greater fight and energy into the side he took over from the sacked Hector Cuper but has been unable to find the creative touch and the fluidity that have long been lacking.

Right from the outset the Russians were positive and precise and they should have had an early lead when Vadim Evseev found himself just three metres out but he mis-kicked and Cristiano Zanetti cleared off the line.

It was a rare moment of individual skill which gave Inter the lead in the 14th minute when Recoba turned superbly to lose his marker on the edge of the area before blasting past Lokomotiv keeper Sergei Ovchinnikov.

Christian Vieri, looking badly short of confidence and fitness, wasted a good opportunity eight minutes later, blasting high over the bar after he had been served a straightforward chance by a Kily Gonzalez pull back.

After the break Inter defender Daniele Adani hit the post with a header from a Recoba corner but Lokomotiv drew level on 54 minutes when Loskov's shot from 25 metres took a deflection off Marco Materazzi and beat Inter keeper Francesco Toldo.

If that was a fortunate goal it was one that Lokomotiv thoroughly deserved although Inter went close to a late winner when Ovchinnikov pulled off an excellent double-save to foil Vieri.

The Inter striker met a Thomas Helveg cross with a firm volley which the Lokomotiv keeper parried and then Ovchinnikov reacted well to block Vieri's second attempt.

Inter had another opportunity near the end when Kily Gonzalez burst into the area after a good run down the left but he hesitated, allowing Oleg Pashinin to make a vital saving tackle.

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