Top News

Bologna holds Inter 0-0

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-09-01 10:08

ROME - Defending champion Inter Milan was held to a frustrating 0-0 draw away to Bologna in its opening match of the 2010/11 Serie A season on Monday.

In a game delayed due to Inter's European Super Cup commitments in Monaco on Friday, the Nerazzurri took 45 minutes to wake up. Despite bombarding Bologna's goal in the second period, they could not find a way through.

Related readings:  Mourinho's Real fail to fire, Barca crush Racing  Brain drain of coaches, players keeps Serie A in the doldrums  Inter beats Roma 3-1 in Italian Super Cup  Inter faces Roma and Juve early

If playing last season's treble winner wasn't tough enough already, Bologna's preparations were thrown into disarray on the eve of the match when president Sergio Porcedda sacked coach Franco Colomba and temporarily replaced him with youth team boss Paolo Magnani.

However, the host showed remarkable resilience, not least from goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano, who made a number of crucial saves, including one with his head.

Although Inter changed coaches in the summer - Rafael Benitez replacing the Real Madrid-bound Jose Mourinho - the starting XI in a 4-3-3 formation came straight from the Portuguese's mold.

However, Inter failed to sparkle and only reached something resembling its own high standards after the interval.

Benitez paid tribute to Vivi-ano's performance but lamented his team's lack of freshness.

"He did very well with his head, with his hands, with everything," Benitez joked.

"In the beginning we had control. We did well, but then they had some chances on the counter-attack. In the second half, we did everything we'd spoken about beforehand.

"We're lacking physical condition and then (Bologna) worked well in defense. They were organized and it wasn't easy to find space, but I was happy with the reaction of my team in the second half."