Inter Milan have registered a narrow 1-0 victory over Palermo at San Siro to move up to third in the Serie A table.

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Both sides started the game slowly and chances were few and far between.

Diego Milito and Franco Brienza saw their efforts saved, before the Argentine striker's curling effort went just inches wide of the far top corner.

Esteban Cambiasso then tried his luck with a volley but failed to get it past Samir Ujkani, and minutes later Philippe Coutinho was teed up by Rodrigo Palacio only to shoot wide.

Inter came out with more energy and determination in the second half, as Coutinho and Palacio made ambitious attempts from outside the Palermo box.

Andrea Ranocchia had a double chance just before the hour mark, but it remained goalless as the game entered the final 30 minutes.

A double substitution from Inter almost paid dividends in the 66th minute when Yuto Nagatomo and Fredy Guarin combined to set up Palacio, but the Inter forward's final effort was parried by Ujkani.

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The Nerazzurri eventually broke the deadlock in the 74th minute when Santiago Garcia deflected Ranocchia's cross from the right wing into his own goal.