Inter Milan have taken a commanding 2-0 lead into the halfway stage of their Serie A encounter with Livorno this evening.

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The hosts came within inches of breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute as Emerson's long-range free kick struck the underside of the crossbar before Samir Handanovic was able to collect.

Inter's first clear opening came shortly before the half-hour mark when Hernanes found space to shoot from just outside the box, only to send his effort narrowly past the post.

He was more accurate nine minutes later, however, giving his side the lead in the 37th minute with a clinical finish into the roof of the net from inside the area.

The visitors almost doubled their lead with just two minutes to go until the break when Zdravko Kuzmanovic let fly from 25 yards, drawing a save from Francesco Bardi.

It was 2-0 right on the stroke of half time, however, as Rodrigo Palacio latched on to Jonathan's cross to give his side some breathing space with one of the last actions of the half.