Inter Milan have squandered the chance to move into the top six of Serie A as they were held to a 0-0 draw away at Empoli this evening.
Empoli's Manuel Pucciarelli tested Samir Handanovic in the early stages with a low drive from distance, but neither side were able to impose themselves on the other in the opening quarter of an hour.
Inter's first shot on target came in the 24th minute as Hernanes stepped off the right wing to bend a low shot towards the far corner, but Luigi Sepe smothered the effort.
Fredy Guarin then span and ran at the Empoli defence in the 38th minute, but his bobbling effort flew wide of Sepe's right-hand post.
With the last touch of the half, Daniele Rugani glanced a free header wide of the far post for Empoli as the sides entered the break level.
Nemanja Vidic and Rodrigo Palacio both wasted good headed opportunities early in the second half and they were almost made to pay as Pucciarelli arrowed a low shot towards the bottom corner, but Handanovic made a sprawling save to deny the bright attacker.
Handanovic was called into action again with 20 minutes remaining to push away Piotr Zielinski vicious strike, but neither side were able to produce a moment of magic to win the game as the tie drifted to a goalless finish.
Kristian Johnson
