They say that it's a mark of champions when a side can disappoint and still prevail with the all-important three points and that maxim is most certainly applicable to Inter on an afternoon where they coughed and spluttered their way to a 1-0 victory over high-flying Chievo.
Mauro Icardi grabbed his first of the season four minutes before the interval as Inter reaffirmed their title credentials and moved five points clear of today's opponents at the summit of the Serie A table.
Trading blows
Both sides traded early blows, with Lucas Castro going close for the hosts and both Stefan Jovetic and Ivan Perisic testing their luck from distance for Mancini’s side.
Chievo continued to threaten with their frequent forays behind enemy lines, pressing diligently in midfield and suffocating the space afforded to £35 million recruit Geoffrey Kondogbia.
16 minutes passed with Chievo the brighter, albeit minimally, of the two sides. Castro then went close from a corner, heading over from close range.
Inter then provided a snapshot of why they’re tipped by many to break the Juventus hegemony when Alex Telles’ cross evaded everyone in the penalty area. The Nerrazzurri were patient in their play, moved possession swiftly and were close to opening the scoring.
Chievo offered a riposte of their own five minutes later when Gobbi and Hetemaj dovetailed beautifully down the left-hand side. The move failed to materialise to much, partly because Felipe Melo was adjudged to have brought down by Valter Birsa when the midfield had shaped to shoot, but the move was symptomatic of the hosts newfound attacking verve.
Gary Medel then spared the visitors blushes when he provided the crucial touch to divert Alberto Paloschi’s cross behind for a corner when Riccardo Meggiorini was lurking at the far post.
Against the run of play
With half-time approaching, Inter made the breakthrough. From an innocous throw-in inside Chievo territory, Kondogbia provided the deftest of scoops to release Mauro Icardi. The Argentine was aided by an inadvertent touch from Gobbi, but he made no mistake when he latched onto the loose ball and stuck the ball past Bizzarri to open his Inter account for the season.
All style but no substance
Chievo, however, began the second period strongly and were unfortunate four minutes after the restart when Paloschi profited from Telles’ error and fired inches wide of the front post.
The hosts continued to press with the same vigour that distinguished their impressive first-half showing, but there was little in the way of substance. Inter, likewise, failed to threaten Bizzarri between the sticks as the game entered its autumn.
Visitors cling on
Inter appeared willing to see the game out when a swift Perisic transition ended in a spectacle of keep-ball at the halfway line.
The Croatian broke again down the left, but, this time, was presented with a glaring opportunity. Bearing down on goal, the ex-Wolfsburg winger had Icardi making up the yards across the face of the box but instead chose to go alone and was eventually thwarted.
Cesar then headed wide from a Simone Pepe cross on 89 minutes as Inter clung on.