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Substitute Mario Balotelli scored a fluke goal moments after coming on to give Serie A leaders Internazionale a 2-1 win at Bologna.

Jose Mourinho's side went ahead through Esteban Cambiasso before Miguel Britos equalised.

Forward Balotelli, out of favour with Mourinho for much of the season after the coach criticised the 18-year-old's attitude, whipped in a free kick on 82 minutes which evaded everyone in the box and nestled in the corner.

Bologna had several chances late on but Inter keeper Julio Cesar was in inspired form and the Italian side can now look forward to Tuesday's Champions League last 16 first leg at home to holders Manchester United.

"At the end we suffered a lot with five or six corners in a row but we defended well," the Brazilian told Sky. "It is another three points before the big match. We have to stay calm."

As so often this season, champions Inter used their aerial power to score the opener from a set piece amid controversy.

Adriano, who netted with his arm in last weekend's 2-1 win over Milan, met Maicon's corner and again appeared to head the ball against his shoulder before Cambiasso blasted in on 57 minutes.

Britos then scored his first league goal for Bologna, coached by fiery former Inter assistant coach Sinisa Mihajlovic, when he headed in a corner. Cambiasso tried to block the ball on the line but got in a tangle as he avoided committing handball.

Bologna, who held a minute's silence before kick off for recently deceased former player Giacomo Bulgarelli, also had two decent chances at the end of a first half which Inter bossed.

Roma moved up to fourth with a narrow 1-0 home victory over Siena courtesy of Brazilian Rodrigo Taddei's second-half goal, a fine curling effort into the top corner.

The result leaves them only two points behind Milan in third and seven behind second-placed Juventus, after they won 2-0 at Palermo - click on the link under the photo for a report on that match.

Reuters