Inter warm up for Bayern clash with win

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1361 votes: 2

25.09.2006

Internazionale have warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League clash against Bayern with a high-scoring victory, although the Italian giants showed evidence of uncharacteristic weakness at the back. Three days before entertaining the German double winners, the Nerazzurri beat Chievo Verona 4-3 with six of the goals coming after half-time, to move top of Serie A after four matches.

Goals from Hernan Crespo (11, 70), Walter Samuel (58) and Dejan Stankovic (64) put Inter 4-0 up and coasting, but Chievo struck three goals in 12 minutes as the match unexpectedly turned into a cliffhanger. "That basically shouldn't happen to us," fumed coach Roberto Mancini (picture), accepting blame for the tight finish: "I might have mixed it up too much with my substitutions."

On form Crespo

However, the coach was pleased with a forward line featuring two-goal Crespo, Luis Figo in the playmaking role, and Brazil striker Adriano in increasingly better shape. "He played well and might have scored himself," Mancini commented.

Crespo had already scented the path to goal a few days earlier with the winner against AS Rome in midweek. "It's going well for me right now," the Argentine striker observed, predicting a tough battle against Bayern: "It'll be hard but interesting. I'd just be delighted to continue my goalscoring run in the Champions League."

Dacourt: We must make amends

Following Inter's surprise opening day defeat to Sporting Lisbon, the Milan superstars are aware of the importance of the meeting with the Bavarians. "It's a vital match," commented Oliver Dacourt, "we threw it away in the first match, so we have to make amends."

Internazionale line-up against Chievo Verona:
Julio Cesar - J. Zanetti, Cordoba, Samuel, F. Grosso - Solari, Dacourt (Maxwell 71), Stankovic (Burdisso 80) - Figo - Crespo (Gonzales 71), Adriano

Absentees: Vieira (suspension; the France midfielder is also banned on Wednesday after his sending-off in Lisbon); Ibrahimovic (short paternity leave)

Goals: 1-0, 4-0 Crespo (11, 70), 2-0 Samuel (58), 3-0 Stankovic (64), 4-1 Pellisier (77, pen), 4-2 Tiribocchi (86), 4-3 Brighi (88)

MUTU

This shows that they can really score goals. It shows that they can also let them in, but one may argue that after leading 4-0 they weren't really trying their best, especially with the mid-week CL fixture in mind.