Inter’s crisis intensified on Sunday with a 2-1 defeat at Chievo where Samuel Eto’o committed a Zinedine Zidane-like headbutt that could result in a lengthy suspension.
Inter president Massimo Moratti gave coach Rafael Benitez his backing after last weekend’s derby defeat by leaders AC Milan, but another loss has left the Spaniard exposed, with the champions now nine points off top spot.
Eto’o was not cautioned by the referee for a headbutt, but the Cameroon striker could be punished retrospectively. He scored Inter’s consolation goal late on after Sergio Pellissier and Davide Moscardelli put Chievo two up.
“It’s clear after a defeat no one is happy, but the only thing I can say is the players worked hard and the reaction in the second half on an awful pitch was the reaction we expect,” said a solemn Benitez, whose side have taken two points from four games. “What Eto’o did is not something good, but he took a punch first and it was provocation. He lost a bit of control, that’s clear.”
Second-placed SS Lazio also lost ground on AC Milan after a 1-1 draw at Parma that left the gap at three points.
Marek Hamsik scored twice as Napoli went third with a 4-1 win over struggling Bologna, who could soon face a points penalty for financial irregularities if a hearing goes against them. Juventus won 2-0 at Genoa to end up the weekend in fourth.
With five sides above Inter after 13 games, last season’s treble winners have a fight on their hands to win a sixth successive scudetto given their poor form and injuries.
Pellissier’s first-half header and Moscardelli’s second-half strike secured Chievo’s victory, but the game will be remembered more for the actions of the Serie A’s top scorer, Eto’o.
In a moment of madness similar to France midfielder Zinedine Zidane’s assault on Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final, Eto’o headbutted Cesar in the chest after being hit by the defender earlier.
The officials missed the first-half incident, but Serie A is sure to look at video evidence and will almost certainly hand the Cameroonian a lengthy ban, depriving Inter of their leading striker.
Eto’o netted his ninth goal of the Serie A season in stoppage-time on a rain-sodden Verona pitch, where Italy’s rugby side had played last weekend.
Inter had three youth team players on the bench because of their injury problems, which Benitez has said are bad luck and nothing to do with his changing the team’s training regime after taking over from former coach Jose Mourinho.
Juventus have had a raft of injuries too, but winger Milos Krasic returned from his knock to score in the win over Genoa.
In the other matches on Sunday, Giampaolo Pazzini scored a hat-trick in Sampdoria’s thrilling 3-2 win at Lecce, where Sampdoria striker Antonio Cassano was again omitted following his row last month with the club president.
New Cagliari coach Roberto Donadoni got off to a winning start with a 2-1 comeback victory at Brescia.
Catania defeated Bari 1-0, while Cesena lost 2-1 at home to Palermo.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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