Cesena's forward from France Gregoire Defrel (L) celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A football match Inter Milan vs Cesena at San Siro Stadium in Milan on March 15, 2015 © Getty Images

The game's first real chance fell to Freddy Guarin on 13 minutes, but the Colombian midfielder couldn't sort his feet out in time after the ball had skipped off the surface into his path inside the area.

The home side pressed for the lead, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring on the half-hour mark when Defrel made the most of a quick counter-attack with a deft finish over Samir Handanovic in the Inter goal.

Guarin then tried an ambitious effort from around 35 yards, but the South American's fiercely-hit strike flew just over the bar as the Nerazzurri searched for parity.

Roberto Mancini's side were level less than four minutes into the second period when Palacio guided home Mauro Icardi's cross.

Inter Milan's forward from Argentina Rodrigo Palacio fights for the ball with Cesena's midfielder from Iceland Hordur Bjorgvin Magnusson (R) during the Serie A football match on March 15, 2015 © Getty Images

Inter wanted a penalty two minutes later when Dodo went down in the box after a quickly-taken corner kick, but the official waved away the appeals from the home side.

Hordor Magnusson fired in a long-range effort from around 30 yards for Cesena on 74 minutes, but the Icelandic defender's strike was always rising over the bar.

Lukas Podolski should have done better two minutes later, but the on-loan Arsenal man was unable to make sufficient contact with a cross on the edge of the six-yard box as the hosts were forced to settle for a point.