Samuel Eto’o scored twice as Inter Milan beat Bologna 4-1 as the champions made it four consecutive wins under new coach Leonardo. Inter are up to fourth in Serie A, with two games in hand, are just five points behind second-placed Napoli, who drew 0-0 with Fiorentina, and eight points adrift of AC Milan ahead of the leaders’ trip to Lecce on Sunday.
Dejan Stankovic, thriving in place of the injured Wesley Sneijder in Leonardo’s new 4-3-1-2 formation, made the San Siro breakthrough after 20 minutes when he poked in Eto’o’s pass. Striker Diego Milito, who hit the post with a header early on, netted his first league goal since November after 30 minutes before setting up Eto’o with a backheel just past the hour. Camerooon striker Eto’o soon curled in a great freekick for the fourth before Henry Gimenez lashed in a consolation.
Captain Javier Zanetti, 37, was again inspirational in midfield as he equalled Beppe Bergomi’s Inter record of 519 Serie A appearances, helping limit Bologna to just one first half chance when Luca Castellazzi saved from Marco Di Vaio.
Napoli, who beat Juventus 3-0 last week, struggled for break down Fiorentina at home without suspended midfielder Marek Hamsik. Napoli’s task became even harder when defender Gianluca Grava had to be replaced in the first half after suffering a potentially serious knee injury.
Walter Mazzarri’s Napoli improved after the break and piled the pressure on at the end but a winner always looked unlikely.
