After the restart Zanetti turned off target with his weaker left foot, but Vieira was booked for a late tackle on Martin Jorgensen and will be suspended against Torino.

Julio Cesar rushed out to pluck a long ball off the head of Pazzini, but Frey punched Maicon's cross off Cruz's foot and Esteban Cambiasso blasted the follow-up off target.

The move continued with Vieira dribbling into the area and fighting off a challenge to roll back from the byeline for Cambiasso to fire into the roof of the net and give Inter the lead.

Christian Vieri replaced Pazzini and was greeted with a chorus of jeers by the Inter fans. He set up a great chance for an equaliser by cutting back for the unmarked Kuzmanovic, but the midfielder was leaning back and ballooned over from seven yards.

However, moments later the Nerazzurri doubled their lead with Balotelli's second goal in as many games. The 17-year-old sprung the offside trap from Cruz's through ball as Gobbi kept everyone on and kept his cool to pass it into the net with the inside of his right foot.

Julio Cesar smothered a Jorgensen cross-shot and Santana flicked on a corner with his heel for Nicolas Burdisso to clear the danger at the back post.

The Inter goalkeeper got down well to palm a Mutu free kick round the near post in stoppages and then performed a remarkable point-blank save on Vieri's header from the corner.

Inter: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Burdisso, Materazzi (Chivu 72), Maxwell; Zanetti, Vieira, Cambiasso, Stankovic (Figo 89); Balotelli (Cesar 77), Cruz

Fiorentina: Frey; Santana, Ujfalusi, Gamberini, Gobbi; Kuzmanovic, Liverani (Osvaldo 78), Montolivo (Pasqual 71); Jorgensen, Pazzini (Vieri 57), Mutu

Ref: Saccani

Materazzi rose at the back post and nodded home Cristian Chivu's brilliant left-wing free kick to double Inter's lead with eight minutes of normal time remaining.

Cagliari midfielder Biondini pulled one back in time added on when his long-range shot went in off Materazzi.

Inter 2-1 Cagliari (HT: 1-0)

Scorers: Cruz 22, Materazzi 82, Biondini 90+1.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 16 Burdisso, 26 Chivu, 6 Maxwell; 14 Vieira, 19 Cambiasso, 4 Zanetti, 5 Stankovic (23 Materazzi 75); 9 Cruz (18 Crespo 85), 45 Balotelli (29 Suazo 77).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 11 Jimenez, 24 Rivas, 28 Maniche.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Cagliari: 4 Capecchi; 21 Canini, 6 Lopez (26 Mancosu 76), 29 Bianco, 29 Ferri; 8 Biondini, 7 Cossu, 3 Del Grosso; 27 Jeda; 9 Acquafresca (19 Larrivey 46), 32 Matri (33 Cotza 79).
Subs not used: 12 Koprivec, 5 Conti, 25 Acosta, 31 Agostini.
Coach: Davide Ballardini.

Referee: Daniele Orsato (Schio).

Booked: Del Grosso 41, Lopez 51.

Milan's best chances of a tactical first half fell to Inzaghi, who headed wide crosses from Bonera and Kaka.

It was third time lucky for the experienced Italian, who stole in to nod Kaka's cross past Julio Cesar for Milan's opener on 51 minutes.

Kaka turned from provider to scorer in the 56th, sliding home from a tight angle to double the Rossoneri's lead after a defensive mistake by Vieira.

The Brazilian's goal prompted a vehement reaction from the Nerazzurri, Maniche and Crespo having shots blocked by Kalac before Cruz cut Milan's lead in the 76th minute with a curling free kick that sailed round the wall and into the far corner.

Inter launched a late onslaught on goal but Milan held firm for a victory that boots their prospects of Champions League football next season.

AC Milan 2-1 Inter (HT: 0-0)

Scorers: Inzaghi 51, Kaka 56, Cruz 76.

AC Milan: 16 Kalac; 25 Bonera, 13 Nesta, 4 Kaladze, 19 Favalli (18 Jankulovski 41); 8 Gattuso (32 Brocchi 67), 21 Pirlo, 23 Ambrosini; 22 Kaka; 10 Seedorf; 9 Inzaghi (7 Pato 77).
Subs not used: 29 Fiori, 11 Gilardino, 27 Serginho, 44 Oddo.
Coach: Carlo Ancelotti.

Inter: 12 Julio Cesar; 13 Maicon, 24 Rivas (6 Maxwell 71), 23 Materazzi, 26 Chivu; 14 Vieira, 4 Zanetti, 19 Cambiasso; 28 Maniche (45 Balotelli 65); 9 Cruz, 18 Crespo (29 Suazo 72).
Subs not used: 1 Toldo, 11 Jimenez, 16 Burdisso, 30 Pelé.
Coach: Roberto Mancini.

Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Turin).

Booked: Rivas 17, Pirlo 72, Ambrosini 75, Bonera 78, Chivu 89, Materazzi 89, Jankulovksi 90+4

“I am a Nerazzurri player now, what happened last year is in the past. I thank Roma for everything they did for me, as I spent five wonderful years there.”

The Brazilian contingent used to be in the minority at the club, but Mancini's arrival increases their power with Douglas Maicon, Maxwell, Julio Cesar and Adriano.

“It will be easier to settle in thanks to them, but I have been playing in Italy for a very long time now. If you work in a certain way, things come automatically, especially if you have help from the players that Inter can boast.”

Amantino managed 40 Serie A goals in 154 appearances and also impressed in the Champions League, most memorably with his step-over strike against Lyon.

However, uncertainty over his future, contract wrangling and the persistent rumours linking him with Inter made for a very fraught relationship with the Giallorossi supporters.

“I am only sorry that in the latter part of last season I was suffering from an injury to the top of my foot that I sustained against Real Madrid.

“I was out for three weeks and had to start all over again, but I still managed to net 13 goals. I was happy at Roma, though, and can only thank the club, fans and players.”