Inter Milan 3 : 1 Catania - Pazzinin at the double

Posted Sunday, May 22, 2011 by PA

Giampaolo Pazzini scored twice as Inter Milan warmed up for the Coppa Italia final by beating Catania 3-1 in their final Serie A match of the season.

Pazzini scored after 15 minutes and again three minutes into the second period, before Yuto Nagatomo added a third in the 63rd minute.

Pablo Ledesma pulled one back for Catania three minutes later but it was a deserved win for the hosts.

With Inter guaranteed to finish no higher or lower than second and with a cup final date against Palermo next week, Inter could have been forgiven for having their minds elsewhere.

But they were straight into their stride as Pazzini shot narrowly wide in the third minute.

After 10 minutes the ball fell to Dejan Stankovic on the edge of the Catania box but he fired high and wide.

Inter were ahead five minutes later when Houssine Kharja's excellent first-time ball played in Pazzini, who finished low past Andrea Campagnolo.

Inter continued to press and Campagnolo saved well from Samuel Eto'o, before Thiago Motta fired wide.

Gonzalo Bergessio fired Catania's first chance of note high and wide five minutes before the break.

Inter got a deserved second three minutes after the restart, Pazzini finishing from close range after being set up by Diego Milito.

Inter were utterly dominant with Kharja firing wide and Pazzini going close to a hat-trick after Lucio led a great counter-attack.

And Lucio was again involved as Inter went 3-0 up, playing in Nagatomo to finish from the edge of the Catania box.

Ledesma briefly punctuated Inter's dominance by finishing from Mariano Izco's assist three minutes later, but they needed Campagnolo to keep out headers from Cristian Chivu and Kharja, keeping the scoreline respectable.