Inter were thoroughly uninspired and thanked goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo for their 0-0 home draw with Saint-Etienne.

Inter were thoroughly uninspired and thanked goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo for their 0-0 home draw with Saint-Etienne.

The Nerazzurri were comfortably dominating their Europa League group with a 100 per cent record, but had scraped one point from three Serie A rounds and today Honorary President Massimo Moratti handed in a surprise resignation. There was also tension in the city with visiting French fans wreaking havoc and letting off fireworks in the underground trains. The injury list included Danilo D’Ambrosio, Daniel Osvaldo, Jonathan, Gary Medel and Hugo Campagnaro.

Mauro Icardi turned a couple of early efforts off target, then Marco Andreolli sent Fredy Guarin clear on goal, but Stephane Ruffier made himself big to block the shot with his body.

The visitors went very close with Kevin Theophile-Catherine’s header just wide from a corner and Florentin Pogba – Juventus star Paul’s older brother – hit a free kick into the wall. Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s deflected effort failed to trouble the goalkeeper.

Saint-Etienne had the best chance of the half, as Juan Pablo Carrizo flew to palm a fierce Franck Tabanou free kick on to the crossbar from a good 25 metres out.

The Nerazzurri were not any more inspired after the restart and lost M’Vila to injury, while Dodo blasted off target from a corner.

Kuzmanovic had a great opportunity and did well to control for a half-volley on the hour mark, but Ruffier got down very quickly for a fingertip save.

Tabanou again tested Carrizo after penalty appeals for a handling offence on a clumsy Hernanes attempted clearance. Moments later the goalkeeper had his gloves stung again by Hamouma and Theophile-Catherine missed the rebound.

Saint-Etienne had not scored a single goal in the Europa League group phase so far, making all these close runs at San Siro a surprise.

Nemanja Vidic nodded a Hernanes corner off target, then the Brazilian unleashed a blockbuster from distance that forced Ruffier into a difficult flying save at the 88th minute.

Saint-Etienne have now drawn all three group games 0-0 and Inter were jeered off the field.

Inter 0-0 Saint-Etienne

Inter: Carrizo; Andreolli, Vidic, Juan Jesus; Mbaye, M’Vila (Hernanes 53), Kuzmanovic (Krhin 85), Kovacic, Dodò; Guarin (Palacio 70); Icardi

St-Etienne: Ruffier; Theophile-Catherine, Sall, Perrin, Pogba (Baysse 78); Lemoine, Clement, Diomande (Cohade 85); Hamouma, Van Wolfswinkel (Monnet-Paquet 65), Tabanou

Ref: Taylor (ENG)

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