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| Inter Milan slip up at Chievo |
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Samuel Eto'o may find himself in trouble after he was filmed headbutting Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar as the defending champions suffered their second successive defeat to heap more pressure on manager Rafael Benitez.
The former Barcelona striker has been one of the few positives for Inter this season, scoring 18 goals in all competitions including a last-minute strike today, although it was merely a consolation after Sergio Pellisier and Davide Moscardelli had given Chievo a two-goal lead.
However, Eto'o could face a ban after he was caught headbutting Cesar in the chest in the 38th minute after the Slovenian hit him with a weak punch.
The Italian league has previously used video evidence to ban Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino for two games after he scored with his hand.
Today's defeat will crank up the pressure on Benitez, who has overseen Inter's fall from European champions to sixth in Serie A, nine points behind leaders AC Milan.
While owner Massimo Moratti has said Benitez's job is not in danger, Inter have now gone four games without a win, taking just two points.
Both sides attacked from the outset with Cyril Thereau forcing Inter goalkeeper Luca Castellazzi to save with a shot from the edge of the box.
However, it was Inter who came closest, Goran Pandev hitting the post before Wesley Sneijder brought a diving save from Stefano Sorrentino with a free-kick from the edge of the box, the goalkeeper then denying Davide Santon.
The hosts went ahead against the run of play after half an hour, Pellisier heading home Nicolas Frey's cross.
Inter came out attacking in the second half, Dejan Stankovic coming close with a header.
Sneijder was narrowly wide with a shot from the edge of the area before Sorrentino blocked Stankovic's goalbound lob.
Chievo then squandered the chance to double their lead when Gelson Fernandes failed to tap in from close range.
Inter continued to press, Sorrentino saving Eto'o's close-range shot and Pandev failing to convert the Cameroon player's cross.
Benitez's team were then punished when Chievo got their second, Thereau supplying Moscardelli who slotted home.
Eto'o pulled one back in injury time with a superb individual effort after going past four Chievo players but it was too little too late.
# Benitez defends Eto'o
Rafael Benitez leapt to the defence of striker Samuel Eto'o who could face a trial by television after appearing to headbutt Chievo defender Bostjan Cesar as the defending Serie A champions slumped to another disappointing defeat.
He said: ''You can see Eto'o received a punch and had a reaction to being provoked, in a difficult situation. There are four referees on the pitch and if they didn't think to do anything, it means there was nothing to do.''
Benitez was largely satisfied with Inter's display although their only reward was a late Eto'o strike which proved to be a mere consolation after efforts from Sergio Pellisier and Davide Moscardelli had given Chievo a two-goal lead.
''Clearly after a defeat nobody is happy, but the players worked hard and had the right reaction in the second half, they showed everything a team with character should show,'' he added on www.inter.it.
''Unfortunately we missed a couple of good chances, but as far as effort and attitude are concerned the team was there. The team demonstrated character and had we scored it would have changed everything.''
The Spaniard confirmed he would meet with club officials after the game but insisted it was routine.
''It will be like always, we talk after every game, with (technical director Marco) Branca, with (sporting director Piero) Ausilio, with (Benitez's consultant Amedeo) Carboni,'' he said. ''It's obvious that a team like ours should be winning these sort of games, but the boys displayed character.
''I am a professional coach and have been in these types of situation: the only way to change it, though, is to continue working and today I saw the will to win in our players.
''What we are living is a difficult situation, of a team which has won a lot, but also where a lot of players are missing, which is the reason why we are forced to field so many young players.''
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