ROME – Inter Milan gave new coach Leonardo a flying start to his San Siro career with a 3-1 win at home to Napoli on Thursday as neighbours AC Milan moved five points clear at the top with a 1-0 win at Cagliari. Former Milan boss Leonardo, who replaced Rafael Benitez, saw Thiago Motta grab a brace while Esteban Cambiasso added the other to sink Napoli, who replied through Michele Pazienza.
Inter are still 13 points behind Milan in seventh but they do have two games in hand. Leonardo revealed that the moment almost passed him by while he refused to make predictions on the season. “It was very fast and wonderful, an intriguing situation,” he said of his brief spell at the club helm. “I want to maintain the satisfaction of a winning team. (But) we need to think about one step at a time, game after game.” Napoli dropped to third, six points off the leaders and just one behind Lazio who drew 0-0 at Genoa.
Inter enjoyed the best possible start at the San Siro as brilliant one touch football between Goran Pandev and Dejan Stankovic sent Motta through to hit a first time volley beyond Morgan De Sanctis on three minutes. Napoli had the ball in the net moments later but Edinson Cavani’s close-range header was disallowed as Andrea Dossena had strayed offside before crossing.
