game at San Siro in the Europa League on Thursday night.
The Serie A club - who were hit by the surprise resignation of
long-serving honorary president Massimo Moratti earlier in the
day - had won both qualifiers and their Group F fixtures with
Qarabag and Dnipro going into the clash at San Siro.
But while Inter have still not conceded a Europa League goal this
term, Walter Mazzarri's side could not break down a stoic Saint-
Etienne team, who have now drawn all three of their
group games.
A Zdravko Kuzmanovic strike well saved by Stephane Ruffier was
as close as Inter came in a game of few chances as Mazzarri's
men saw their lead at the top of the pool cut by a point to three
after Qarabag's 1-0 win in Kiev.
Saint-Etienne, meanwhile, slip to third ahead of the return
fixture at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on November 6.
Featuring against one of his former clubs, Inter skipper Fredy
Guarin had the first effort at goal but blazed his strike over the
crossbar from outside the area two minutes in.
Mauro Icardi was next to go close but he too failed to find the
target when played in by Yann M'Vila.
Winger Ibrahima Mbaye came close to engineering an opening
when he surged down the right but still the visitors stood firm
amid Inter's domination of possession.
Florentin Pogba's free-kick found the Inter wall as Saint-Etienne
made a rare foray forward and Kevin Theophile-Catherine
almost gave Christophe Galtier's side a shock lead when he
headed wide from the ensuing corner.
The visitors grew into the game before the break and almost ha
a half-time lead when Franck Tabanou let fly from a free-kick -
Juan Pablo Carrizo required to tip the effort over.
Romain Hamouma saw appeals for a penalty waved away after
going down under pressure from Mbaye early in the second half
before Inter were dealt a blow as M'Vila limped off to be
replaced by Hernanes.
While forced upon Mazzarri, the change seemed to inject some
energy into Inter's second-half showing as the home side
continued to dominate possession without really threatening
Ruffier.
Ruffier was called on to tip Kuzmanovic's shot wide shortly after
the hour while Theophile-Catherine blazed over when played in
down the right 16 minutes from time.
However, neither side were able to break the deadlock as Inter
extended their unbeaten run at home in Europe to nine matche
but missed the chance to fully bolster their hopes of
progression.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
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