The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 178 Stabilize the situation

After successfully advancing to the Champions League and eliminating the blue team Chelsea, Mourinho could immediately breathe a sigh of relief.

Inter Milan's opponent in the Champions League quarter-finals is much easier to deal with, and that is CSKA Moscow.

Of course, this is only relative. The Russian Super League champions are naturally less powerful than the Premier League leaders.
  But no matter what, they defeated Wolfsburg to qualify from the group and eliminated La Liga powerhouse Sevilla before advancing to the quarterfinals.

As long as they defeat Moscow, Inter Milan will once again break into the semi-finals of the Champions League, which is also their best result in recent years.

But before that, Mourinho and his Inter Milan must return home first, and they will continue to face severe tests.

On March 3, the Nerazzurri made consecutive visits to Sicily. In the 20th round of Serie A, they faced Palermo away from home.

After three games of suspension, Mourinho can finally return to the coaching bench.

Today their opponent Palermo is not a weak team, currently ranking fourth in the league standings.

Moreover, the Sicilian team has maintained its unbeaten home record with ten wins and four draws at home this season.

Therefore, Inter Milan cannot be careless at all, Mourinho sent the main force to fight.

There is only one adjustment compared to the starting lineup in the last away game against Chelsea.

On the back line, Thornton, who has returned from injury, serves as left back, and the other positions remain unchanged.

The forward line is still a trident composed of Pandev, Eto'o and Milito.

Leo had another conversation with Mourinho privately.

He knows exactly what the head coach thinks.

Inter Milan's current lead in Serie A is very obvious, although due to the draw in the last round, AC Milan, which is ranked second, has slightly narrowed the gap.

But the Nerazzurri's lead is still a full 17 points.

Mourinho certainly hopes to lock in the league title as early as possible, so that they can free up their energy to focus on the Champions League.

Otherwise, we will continue to fight on multiple fronts, and the domestic arena will be targeted everywhere, and the pressure may become greater the further we go.

So today, no matter where Palermo is unbeaten at home, Inter Milan must win their opponent.

Let Leo give the home team their first home defeat of the season!

Inter Milan kicked off first and took the lead in attacking.

Just three minutes into the game, Leo sent a long pass near the center circle!

Eto'o made a breakthrough pass from the right, and Milito reached the right side of the penalty area and volleyed from a small angle and hit the near post and hit the bottom line!
  The Nerazzurri almost scored in their first away game!
  However, their goal did not come too late.

Two minutes later, Eto'o's volley from the right side of the penalty area was blocked by Palermo defender Balzaretti at the near post!
  Leo took a corner kick from the right. Lucio was pulled down by Bovo behind him when he was fighting for the spot at the back post. The referee blew a penalty kick!
  This is really rare, and the head coach Mourinho on the sidelines was a little surprised.

Bovo also received the first yellow card of the game.

The Barbera Stadium was filled with boos, but the slow motion showed that Bovo's foul action was very obvious, and there was no problem with the referee's decision.

Milito took the penalty kick and volleyed with his right foot past the home team goalkeeper Siligu and into the upper left corner of the goal!
  One to zero!

Inter Milan scored first!

This is also the Argentine’s nineteenth league goal this season!
  Although Milito is indeed behind Di Natale in the scorer list now, the season is not over yet and everything is still possible.

Inter Milan stole the ball in the backcourt, and Leo dribbled the ball forward in the middle. Facing the double-teaming of Nocerino and Pastore, Inter Milan's No. 10 deftly broke through with a fried ball!
  Then Leo jumped on Balzaretti and passed the ball into the penalty area!

Milito made a diving header from the back post, and the ball went slightly over the crossbar.

Zanetti committed a defensive foul and gave the home team a well-positioned free kick opportunity.

Pastore's direct free kick from 20 meters away from the goal went high.

Soon after, Simplicio's furious shot from outside the penalty area missed the right post.

Palermo itself is not weak, and coupled with the advantage of home court, it also played some threatening offenses.

Bovo elbowed Milito in the face while defending, but referee Antonio D'Amato awarded Palermo a free kick.

Mourinho: ? ? ?
  Sure enough, he came with a mission.

In the 24th minute, Miccoli rushed to the penalty area and sent a through ball. Cavani stopped the ball between two Inter Milan defenders and then shot angrily into the near corner with his right foot!

The ball went in! Cesar missed the save!
  One to one!

Palermo equalized the score!

Then the home team continued to attack with persistent efforts.

Nocerino's long shot from outside the penalty area missed.

Two minutes later, Cambiaso fell to the ground in the penalty area to make a clearance. Pastore stole the ball and passed the defense and shot furiously on the right side of the penalty area. The ball was obtained by Cesar.

Inter Milan counterattacked quickly, Leo moved to the right, and Maicon rushed all the way to the right side of the penalty area and kicked the ball into the penalty area!

Pandev's head-flicking attack from behind missed the goal slightly!

Cassani made a pass from the right, and Miccoli took the lead in front of the goal with a low shot that missed the far post. At the end of the first half, the score was level one to one.

Not satisfied with the team's performance in the first half, Mourinho asked several substitute players to stay on the court to warm up.

In the second half, they changed sides and fought again.

Leo made a direct pass from the frontcourt. Eto'o passed Cassani and broke into the penalty area, but his shot missed the right post.

Then Palermo retaliated. Miccoli ran 50 meters long and broke into the right side of the penalty area to pass the ball. Cavani hit the ball above the goal crossbar.

Then there was another direct pass from Leo, and Pandev's shot from the left side of the penalty area was blocked by Palermo defender Kjaer.

In the 57th minute, Simplicio made too many defensive moves to tackle Lucio and injured himself.

It was hilarious that he couldn't insist on being taken off on a stretcher, and Bertolo came on as an emergency substitute.

Mourinho also made substitution adjustments, with Kolarov and Thiago Motta replacing David Thornton and Cambiasso.

Thornton's performance in today's game was mediocre. Although his opponent, Palermo right back Cassani, had average offensive ability, he did a good job of limiting Thornton's assists.

Kolarov, who had just come on as a substitute, actively moved forward to look for opportunities to attack. Leo's timely kick was sent directly to the gap in front of the Serbian.

After receiving the ball, Kolarov moved to the right in a wide range. Maicon cut in and shot a low shot from a small angle on the right side of the penalty area!

Palermo goalkeeper Siligu, who was guarding the goal line, reacted quickly and flew to save the ball with one palm!
  Leo stood in front of the penalty spot, stopped the ball with his left foot and volleyed vigorously with his right heel into the center of the goal!
  The Italian goalkeeper was still lying on the goal line, unable to stop Leo's follow-up shot.

Two to one!

Inter Milan takes the lead again!
  Immediately afterwards, Maicon made a cross pass after breaking through from the right. There was no one in the middle to respond. Kolarov received the ball at the back point and walked into the penalty area and took a shot, which was saved by Siligu!
  The chemical reaction between the two full-backs is what Mourinho has long wanted to see on the court.

But in this case, is it still necessary to have three forwards?
  Uruguayan striker Cavani, who had previously scored the equalizing goal for Palermo, was replaced by Hernandez.

But game time is running out.

In stoppage time, Milito fouled Bertolo and was given a yellow card by referee D'Amato.

Miccoli's free kick from the left was directed from a small angle and was resolved by Cesar.

At the end of the game, Inter Milan defeated Palermo 2-1 away from home.

Just three days later, Mourinho's team returned home and faced the challenge of Livorno, the relegation team at the bottom of the league standings.

Since November 1947, Livorno has not defeated Inter Milan.

However, because Inter Milan is in a devilish schedule, with a game against Roma on the weekend and a Champions League game next week, Mourinho made a bold rotation of the team.

Milito, Pandev, Lucio, Samuel and other main players served as substitutes.

On the front line, Wang Dong, Eto'o and Balotelli started together.

On the back line, Cordoba and Materazzi partnered as central defenders. Chivu returned to the starting lineup for the first time since his skull fracture.

Not long after the start of the first half, Leo made a direct pass from the frontcourt. Eto'o turned away from Livorno defender Perticone and volleyed with his right foot from the left side of the penalty area into the right side of the goal!
  One to zero!

Inter Milan got off to a fantastic start.

The visiting team also tried to find some opportunities to counterattack, but the Nerazzurri always firmly controlled the situation on the field.

Balotelli got rid of Pieri's defense on the right and passed a half-high ball. Eto'o scored with an overhead kick in the small penalty area with his back to the goal!

Two to zero!
  Before halftime, Livorno's former Milan midfielder Di Gennaro's long shot from outside the penalty area was resolved by Inter goalkeeper Cesar flying to the right.

Inter Milan ended the first half with a two-goal lead.

The visiting team took the lead in making substitutions in the second half, with Vitale coming on as a substitute and replacing Filippini.

Facing Livorno who was eager to attack and get a goal back, Leo controlled the ball in the midfield and slowed down the pace of the game.

In the 61st minute, Leo broke through two defensive players in a row and then accurately drove straight to the right!
  Maicon crossed to the right side of the small penalty area and shot with his right foot from a small angle!
  Three to zero!
  The Nerazzurri have secured victory!

After scoring the goal, Cesar came to the sidelines and performed a samba dance with a South American style.

This also aroused the enthusiasm of Nerazzurri in the stands, with constant cheers and shouts.

In the 77th minute, Thornton came on as a substitute for Chivu, and all the fans stood up and applauded the Romanian.

After experiencing such a terrible injury as a skull fracture, it is indeed admirable for Chivu to recover so quickly and return to the team in a good mood to return to the game.

The game entered stoppage time. Leo dribbled the ball seemingly carelessly, and Livorno's defense was a little lax.

Then Leo suddenly accelerated and broke through to the edge of the penalty area with a kick and passed into the penalty area!

King Dong's header flew over, and Balotelli dived from the right and headed the ball into the lower right corner of the goal!

Four to zero!
  At the end of the game, Mourinho's team defeated Wono at home.

It was an easy win 4-0, just as AC Milan had one draw and one loss in the last two games, and the gap was widened by Inter Milan.

After 30 rounds of Serie A, Inter Milan is now just 22 points ahead of the second place in the standings.

This means that as long as they can win the next round of the league, the Nerazzurri will successfully defend their title and win this season's Serie A championship seven rounds in advance!
  (End of this chapter)