Battling Inter Milan squeeze past Chievo in Serie A

Serie A leaders Inter Milan ground out a 1-0 win at Chievo on Wednesday with new signing Goran Pandev unlucky not to score his first goal for the club and the winner credited to Mario Balotelli. 

The champions moved 11 points clear of second-placed AC Milan, who have two games in hand and host Genoa in Wednesday''s late match (1945).

Chievo had a shout for a penalty turned down when Sergio Pellissier fell under a challenge from Ivan Cordoba and Inter immediately broke up the other end to score on 12 minutes. 

Neat work by Pandev and Wesley Sneijder left Balotelli in space and after his first shot was saved, his second effort was cleared off the line only for Pandev to nod in.

However, television replays showed Balotelli's second shot had crossed the line. The scorer was later booked for kicking the ball away which means he misses the weekend match with Siena but will be available for the Milan derby later this month.  

"This is Inter. Whoever plays is strong," the outspoken Balotelli told Sky TV before blasting home fans for booing him.    

The pitch in Verona was very cut up and made expansive play difficult. The stadium was reasonably full for the unusual midday kickoff, aimed at a bigger television audience on the Epiphany holiday ahead of nine other Serie A games later.

Immediate start

Striker Pandev had not played a league game since May having been banished from the Lazio squad in a contract dispute but made an immediate start because of injuries, suspensions and Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o being at the African Nations Cup.

The Macedonian belied his lack of sharpness with a lively display as Inter clung on and avoided conceding a late penalty for a Ricardo Quaresma handball.

An impressive Patrick Vieira started what could be his last Inter match before a transfer while Cristian Chivu went off with a head injury and on-loan forward Marko Arnautovic made his debut. 

"Patrick has found the best way to say goodbye," coach Jose Mourinho said, adding he did not know where the Frenchman would go amid media speculation of interest from Manchester City.

"I'm super satisfied. These are the matches that decide lots. What makes the difference is personality and character."

Third-placed Juventus visit Parma at 1400 with underfire coach Ciro Ferrara desperate for a win after losing three in a row before the mid-season break.