Rome - A brace each from Samuel Eto'o and Mario Balotelli were barely enough for leaders Inter Milan as they edged guests Palermo 5-3 Thursday in a game that wrapped up a Serie A mid-week round. Guest striker Fabrizio Miccoli also scored a brace in the pulsating game, which left the reigning champions with 25 points from 10 games and a four-point lead on Juventus, who trounced third-place Sampdoria 5-1 on Wednesday.
Eto'o gave Inter an early lead, converting a spot kick awarded for Cristian Melinte's flooring of Balotelli, but the Cameroon star striker came close again on 15 minutes with a difficult volley.
Palermo's first telling equalizing effort on 17 minutes was a drive from Brazilian Fabio Simplicio that met the deflection of compatriot goalkeeper Julio Cesar.
Salvatore Sirigu had to make a far more difficult save for Palermo on 20 minutes to prevent an own goal and one minute later was graced by Balotelli, who incredibly nodded wide from close range.
More saves were needed from the Palermo custodian to block drives from Eto'o, Douglas Maicon and a Balotelli header, while Esteban Cambiasso squandered an assist from Dejan Stankovic.
Uruguay's Edison Cavani squandered for Palermo on 40 minutes from good position, but the first half's final minutes were deadly for Palermo, who conceded two more goals in as many minutes.
Balotelli flicked home after a blunder from Dane Simon Kjaer and on the following action burst on the right flank and fed Eto'o for a low killer shot.
The game, however, was not to be a downhill ride for Inter, who saw Miccoli pull one back and hit again for 4-3 after Uruguayan substitute Abel Hernandez volleyed home a low feed from the right flank.
The diminutive Miccoli displayed his impressive speed, twice spurting past the defence to stun a helpless Julio Cesar.
Inter struggled to resume their usually hammering pace but came close with drives from Argentine substitute Diego Milito and Brazilian Thiago Motta, who both came on after injury layoffs.
A right-flank spurt from Brazilian Maicon with seven minutes left favoured a crucial flick from Milito that settled the score on 5-3.
