Rodrigo Palacio has given Inter Milan a 1-0 lead at the halfway stage of their Serie A encounter with Hellas Verona this evening.

The visitors almost made a perfect start to the match when they carved out a good opportunity in the fifth minute, but Mauro Icardi could not convert his header from the edge of the six-yard box while Danilo D'Ambrosio blazed the rebound over the bar.

Icardi had another chance just two minutes later as he got his head onto the end of a cross once again, but his effort went narrowly past the post.

Inter did take the lead in the 13th minute when Palacio latched onto Jonathan's pass inside the area and slotted the ball home with a composed finish.

The hosts had a decent sight of goal just before the half-hour mark as Luca Toni peeled off his man to meet a cross, only to send his header well wide.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead in the 33rd minute when Fredy Guarin received the ball inside the area before firing a shot towards the far corner, but Rafael was equal to it.

Guarin threatened again just before the break, forcing another stop from Rafael with a long-range effort, as Inter went into the interval with a one-goal advantage.