SS Lazio went four points clear at the top of Serie A with a 2-1 home win over Cagliari as champions Inter were held 1-1 at home to Sampdoria on Sunday.
Inter came close to losing their first home league match in three years when Stefano Guberti gave the visitors the lead, but a Samuel Eto’o goal earned a share of the spoils.
Argentine centerback Walter Samuel said he was unconcerned by Lazio’s flying start.
“We didn’t lack anything, we played well and created many chances,” Samuel said. “There’s a long way to go, Lazio are doing well, but we’re confident.”
Samp coach Domenico Di Carlo was happy with the point.
“Inter are the best team in Europe, we prepared well, we started well, but Inter punish you every time you’re out of position,” Di Carlo said. “They’re a strong team and when they accelerate it’s difficult to keep up.”
Brazilian centerhalf Lucio had the first clear sight of the goal on 10 minutes, but Gianluca Curci made a point blank save from his close-range volley.
Sampdoria were next to threaten when Antonio Cassano chipped to the back post, where Guberti headed the ball back into the danger area and Giampaolo Pazzini stretched out a leg ahead of Samuel, but he could only prod into goalkeeper Julio Cesar’s arms.
Live-wire Brazilian teenager Coutinho then went on a jinking run down the left, but Curci came out to smother at his feet, with Eto’o firing the rebound into the side-netting.
Inter were back on the attack after the break as more trickery from Coutinho created a chance for his compatriot Maicon, but Luciano Zauri was ideally placed to clear his drive off the line.
Samp went ahead on 62 minutes when Cassano crossed for Guberti to send an acrobatic volley goalwards, and although Cesar got his hands on it, the ball spun up and over the line.
Inter came storming straight back and Curci saved with his legs from Coutinho, while Wesley Sneijder fired wildly over the bar.
Samp suffered a blow when Curci had to go off with a calf injury and his replacement Junior Da Costa’s first task was to pick the ball out of his net 10 minutes from time.
Coutinho, who had caused havoc all night, crossed from the left and Eto’o stole in at the near post to poke home.
Inter could have had a winner too, but Lucio’s shot went over.
Lazio’s dream start to the season continued as they downed their Sardinian visitors, now sitting second from bottom.
Sergio Floccari got Lazio off to a positive start, lashing home on 21 minutes after the ball fell to him when two efforts by Hernanes were blocked.
Stefano Mauri doubled the lead on 53 minutes in fortunate fashion as he stumbled and fell over, only for a cross from the left to hit him in the stomach and go in.
Alessandro Matri’s diving header from Andrea Cossu’s cross six minutes later left Lazio hanging on at the end.
AS Roma’s turbulent start to the season continued as they were held to a 0-0 draw at rock-bottom Parma while Juventus failed to move into the top three after their 0-0 draw at Bologna.
In Sunday’s other games, it was Chievo 2, Cesena 1; Genoa 1, Catania 0; Lecce 2, Brescia 1; and Udinese 2, Palermo 1.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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