But after a good spell of home pressure it was Inter that broke the deadlock after Adriano latched onto free-kick.

Midfield maestro Luis Figo sent the ball curling into the box and, after bustling his way through a crowd of players, Adriano got enough of a touch to claim the goal, although Figo celebrated as if it was his own.

Reggina did not lose hope, however, and continued to probe with Francesco Cozza going the closest with his shot scraping the woodwork.

Inter's Francesco Toldo was by far the busier of the two goalkeepers but never looked like conceding.

Inter coach Roberto Mancini appeared happy enough with the one-goal cushion too, and substituted Adriano for Javier Zanetti, but the Brazilian was far from happy at being hauled out of the action at a relatively early stage.

As Adriano left the field, the striker refused to shake Mancini's out-stretched hand and sat at the far end of the bench in disgust.

Adriano watched on as Mancini, possibly sensing that one goal might not be enough after all, then introduced two strikers from the bench in the shape of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Suazo.

By now Mancini was desperate for his side to bag a second goal to put the game beyond the home side, who continued to look the most likely to score with a series of forays into the Inter half.

However, for all their probing, Reggina were struggling to create clear-cut chances in front of goal.

Indeed it was Suazo who came closest to adding another goal for Inter with just two minutes remaining, but he was unable to reach the ball first after Ibrahimovic's shot was parried.

Reggina battled to the death and had two more chances later on. However, they failed to find a way past the impressive Toldo as Inter hung on to claim all three points.
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The Frenchman has only just returned from a long injury lay-off, but picked up a different muscular problem during the 2-1 win at CSKA Moscow and will be out for a further two months.

The right calf strain is the fifth injury Vieira has had in 2007, which explains why he has played only 12 official Inter games this year.

"We will not put any pressure on Vieira to return earlier than expected. Our objective is to have him completely fit and recovered from all his physical problems in January," Moratti told l'Equipe.

"It would be a wonderful Christmas present to be able to field him in the derby against Milan on December 23, but we are a long way away from that date now. At this moment all we wish is that he can be fit again in January."

It has now been confirmed the Milan derby will be played on the afternoon of Sunday December 23, so there will be no evening kick-off for that tie.

Meanwhile, with Vieira's injury issues continuing to leave the Nerazzurri midfield uncovered, it is reported the club is looking to sign a replacement in January.

The bid for Rafael Van der Vaart had been predicted for next summer, but that Ł10m offer to the Hamburg star could now be brought forward six months. Van der Vaart would also be eligible for the Champions League.

Vieira's latest setback is also an issue for France boss Raymond Domenech in the race for Euro 2008 qualification.

Manicni made two forced changes at half-time, bringing on Orlandoni and Dacourt for injured pair Julio Cesar and Stankovic.

Inter's third goalkeeper, between the posts for the second time in his Nerazzurri career after the 2-2 Serie A draw with Cagliari in 2005/06, made saves from Caserta and Simplicio in a livelier second half.

The Nerazzurri had chances of their own and Suazo headed a Chivu cross just wide before Dacourt's long-range effort whizzed over the bar.

In between Fabrizio Miccoli, back in action after a lay-off through injury, went close with a rising drive from 20 yards.

Ibrahimovic tried an outrageous backheeled shot from Cambiasso's pass but Fontana got down at the near post to save.

The woodwork denied Inter a late opener when Chivu's majestic curling free kick came back off the crossbar.

Ibra had another good chance to secure the points with two minutes remaining but Fontana made a reflex save from the Swedish striker's downwards header.

Will you rotate a lot of players against Genoa?
"It will be a very hard game because they're playing well and are in excellent physical condition. So we will wait until tomorrow and look at the condition of all our players. We want to see which of them are one hundred percent."

Is there a slight risk that the team will be thinking about Sunday's match against Juventus?
"No, not at all. I have already told the team that we face a very hard game tomorrow evening and that we will have problems if we take it as it comes. If we take it very seriously, which we always have done, it will be a difficult game but a bit less hard. Genoa are a hard team to face at the moment."

Adriano is back on your team list for tomorrow evening's game...
"Why do you always ask me all these questions about Adriano? I know that it's an important subject for you, but I have five strikers. I have already said twenty times that I can't reply to twenty questions about Adriano. In Palermo I explained why he hadn't been called up. He has been called up for tomorrow and we play at home so when we decide who will go into the stands, we will give this player the chance to train in the morning. We couldn't do this in Palermo because the match was at three o'clock in the afternoon. But I have already explained this a thousand times. It's four years now that we continue with the same questions. Every time it seems like a question is asked to create a problem, and this is absurd. And the questions are always about Adriano... He will play if he deserves to, otherwise he will go on the bench or in the stands. But this goes for Adriano, Suazo, Cruz, Crespo and Ibrahimovic."

Are you worried about having Ibrahimovic and Samuel on cautions ahead of the match against Juventus?
"Samuel's caution is a bit more dangerous because he's a defender and there's always the risk of committing a foul. It's less likely for a striker to get booked unless he protests or kicks the ball away. On the one hand I'd like to play them, but on the other hand it could be a risk because it's a very delicate match tomorrow."

After an iffy start Genoa have gone on to show they can be a very dangerous team...
"They lost their first match against Milan and have done well since then. They are a team who have been playing together for a long time. The players know one another quite well and the coach isn't new. They have their style of play, they have some very quick players and they're certainly not an easy side to face. But no one plays to lose so they will try to win tomorrow. But this is normal."

Could we see Suazo in a wide midfield role, so you can rest a few midfielders?
"I think this is a bit risky. Unfortunately we have a few injuries, so the midfielders will have to grit their teeth and play regularly until the break."

Do you think Juventus president Cobolli Gigli is right to complain about the refereeing in Naples?
"Stop. Like I said on Sunday, I'm not replying to this."

Mancini's men were a goal to the good after just eight minutes of the midweek clash when Cordoba stole in to nod home after Crespo's header from Zanetti's cross was pushed on to the bar by Rubinho.

Chances for a quick second were plenty, but the Genoa keeper pulled off heroics to thwart Cesar, Maxwell and Chivu.

Genoa carved out two good opportunities for a first-half equaliser. On the half hour Orlandoni narrowed the angle to block a shot from the unmarked Fabiano. Figo headed off the line five minutes before the break to deny Borriello.

Inter made a strong start to the second half and doubled their lead five minutes in. Rubinho spilled Chivu's free kick and Esteban 'El Cuchu' Cambiasso pounced to slot home.

Crespo and Cesar missed two great chances to kill off the game as Genoa fought back hard.

Figueroa had a shot blocked by Orlandoni's legs just minutes after coming on for the ineffective Borriello.

Rossoblu defender De Rosa then missed a gilt-edged chance, rising to nod over Leon's dangerous inswinger from close range.

Crespo missed again in the 70th minute, prompting Mancini to introduce Suazo.

Genoa reduced the arrears after a devastating move in the 74th when Konko crashed an angled shot past Orlandoni after a sublime flicked pass from Figueroa.

The Rossoblu's celebrations were short-lived as Suazo restored the two-goal advantage within sixty seconds, lifting the ball over Rubinho after intercepting De Rosa's headed back pass.

The Honduran striker's first goal in black and blue sparked wild celebrations with his team-mates and sent San Siro into delirium.

Inspired, Suazo won a penalty with two minutes left on the clock, dribbling three opponents during a central run on goal before being brought down by the keeper.

Julio Cruz stepped up to the spot and sent Rubinho the wrong way, sealing an emphatic victory.

Inter 4-1 Genoa

Scorers: Cordoba 8, Cambiasso 50, Konko 73, Suazo 74, Cruz (pen) 88.

Inter (4-4-2): 22 Orlandoni; 13 Maicon, 2 Cordoba, 26 Chivu, 6 Maxwell; 7 Figo (21 Solari 85), 19 Cambiasso, 4 Zanetti, 31 Cesar (16 Burdisso 78); 9 Cruz, 18 Crespo (29 Suazo 70).
Subs not used: 71 Alfonso, 8 Ibrahimovic, 15 Dacourt, 25 Samuel.

Genoa (3-4-3): 83 Rubinho; 4 Bega, 16 Lucarelli (34 Masiello 81), 25 De Rosa; 7 Rossi (28 Juric 54), 77 Milanetto, 24 Konko, 8 Danilo; 11 Leon, 22 Borriello (9 Figueroa 54), 29 Fabiano.
Subs not used: 73 Scarpi, 3 Bovo, 14 Sculli, 23 Ghinassi.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.

Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Terni).

Booked: Milanetto 41, Borriello 42, Rubinho 87.