Keeper Stefano Sorrentino saves point for Palermo against Inter Milan

A quiet first half came to life in the second period as Palermo and Inter Milan played out a 1-1 draw, in which Palermo captain Stefano Sorrentino made two important saves to ensure his side took a point from their home encounter.

Franco Vasquez came closest to netting in the first half as he tested Samir Handanovic on two occasions, but the Slovenian goalkeeper got meaningful touches on both efforts to maintain a scoreless first half.

Roberto Mancini made an early change in the second half, replacing Geoffrey Kondogbia with Jonathan Biabiany.

The switch paid instant dividends as Biabany's cross found fellow summer signing Ivan Perisic in the box, the Croatia international slotting home from three yards out.

Veteran striker Alberto Gilardino levelled the scoreline in the 66th minute, tapping home after Vasquez's cross pinged off both Jeison Murillo and Miranda in the Inter penalty area.

Palermo keeper and captain Sorrentino then somehow managed to keep the scores at one apiece, diving backwards to tip Fredy Guarin's deflected effort onto the crossbar and out for a corner.

Murillo, who was booked in the opening half, was shown a straight red following a sliding tackle on Vasquez that got the man rather than the ball.

Sorrentino made another crucial save on the 90th-minute mark, denying Biabany who had been sent clear by Adem Ljajic.

Mancini's Inter side move to second in the Serie A table, with table-topping Fiorentina playing third-place Roma on Sunday, while Palermo remain in 11th.