Sulley Ali Muntari's bizarre goal and a Wesley Sneijder free kick comfortably swept Catania aside 2-1 despite a late penalty.

The Nerazzurri risked a Jekyll & Hyde reputation, as they were all-conquering in Serie A and ineffective with a series of draws in the Champions League. They took on a side that sparked a huge row between Jose Mourinho and Catania director of sport Pietro Lo Monaco. The Elefantini earned their first win of the season last week and welcomed back Ciro Capuano and Federico Spolli from suspension, though Barrientos, Alvarez and Sciacca were still sidelined. Inter missed Thiago Motta, Diego Milito, Esteban Cambiasso and Walter Samuel, but took the rare step of partnering Mario Balotelli with Samuel Eto'o.

This was the 139th consecutive match between Serie A and Champions League that Javier Zanetti featured in for Inter, not missing a game in three years.

Three minutes in Eto'o pounced on a Silvestre error to go clear, but when his chance was charged down Wesley Sneijder failed to make the most of the rebound.

Andrea Campagnolo clumsily parried a Lucio header from a corner with his feet, but didn't get to the ball that opened the scoring for Inter.

A Sulley Ali Muntari long ball from 30 metres out went over Eto'o at full stretch and bounced in past a startled and very slow Campagnolo. It was a howler from the goalkeeper, who expected Eto'o to make contact.

Catania fought back as Ezequiel Carboni unleashed a blockbuster from 30 metres that was heading right for the top corner before Julio Cesar got his palms to it.

Sneijder's angled drive was comfortably smothered, while Silvestre made up for his earlier error by tackling Balotelli in the box. The move continued and Patrick Vieira was unmarked from nine yards, but smacked his shot on to the crossbar.

Sneijder doubled Inter's lead with a fine free kick, curled from 20 metres into the near top corner, beating Campagnolo again. The goalkeeper's view appeared to be impaired by the defensive wall.

Gennaro Delvecchio wasted a counter by ballooning over when he pounced on an Ivan Cordoba ricochet, then soon after Cristian Chivu had to intercept a dangerous ball for the waiting Carboni.

Balotelli had penalty appeals waved away when Spolli stumbled into the back of his ankle, but the referee ignored the very strong shout, as it was a clumsy intervention.

The Sicilians made two changes at the break, introducing Giuseppe Mascara and Pablo Ledesma. Carboni blasted off target from a promising position, but Inter also threatened when Campagnolo punched a Sneijder free kick out for Vieira's diving header over the bar.

Taka Morimoto went on a rapid counter from midfield after 64 minutes and Cordoba was booked for a sliding tackle to cut him off outside the area. Mascara turned the free kick over the bar.

Campagnolo flapped meekly at a Balotelli header from a corner, but no Inter players were able to take advantage.

Lucio risked an own goal with a clumsy attempted clearance as Mascara whipped in a cross, but he did just enough to stop it reaching the unmarked Morimoto right behind him in the six-yard box.

The referee inevitably pointed to the spot when Cristian Llama's snapshot bounced off Julio Cesar's chest and into the path of Gianvito Plasmati, the goalkeeper bringing him down. There could be no argument, but Cordoba was on the goalline, so there was no red card. Mascara confidently converted under the bar.

Catania were back in it and Llama drilled a daisy-cutter wide, but at the other end Eto'o curled a free kick inches wide of the far post with Campagnolo rooted to the spot. In stoppages the Sicilians also had a chance with Julio Cesar smothering Llama's long-range free kick.