Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Inter went clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-0 win at Palermo on Saturday.
After a scoreless first half, Ibrahimovic put Inter in front less than 30 seconds into the second half, curving a shot from beyond the area in off the far post.
For his second goal, Ibrahimovic struck a fierce free-kick through a hole in Palermo’s wall in the 62nd minute. Palermo goalkeeper Alberto Fontana was lined up to stop the shot, but couldn’t even get a hand on a ball that traveled at an estimated 124kph.
Ibrahimovic also scored two goals on the final day of last season to secure Inter’s third straight Serie A title.
“That counted more, but this was very important,” he said. “Two goals and first place. We’ve got to continue like this, especially next week against Juventus.”
Inter lead with 27 points, three ahead of Juventus, who routed Genoa 4-1 on Thursday to temporarily join Inter atop the standings.
AInter coach Jose Mourinho moved away from his preferred 4-3-3 formation and lined up a 4-1-3-2, with Julio Ricardo Cruz joining Ibrahimovic up front.
Palermo threatened early with Fabrizio Miccoli and Fontana made a save from a low shot from Ibrahimovic in the 28th minute, Inter’s only serious threat of the first half.
Inter defender Ivan Cordoba picked up a yellow card in the 66th minute that will rule him out of next week’s Juve game and Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar did well to stop a free-kick from Miccoli, while Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso nearly curved in a free-kick in the 76th minute. Ibrahimovic had another chance in added time, with Fontana leaping to make a difficult save.
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