( CNN ) -- Internazionale moved up to second place in Italy 's Serie A with a dour 1-0 victory over Cagliari on Saturday that put the defending champions within two points of rivals AC Milan . Defender Andrea Ranocchia was credited with the only goal in the seventh minute in an unconvincing warm-up for Wednesday 's Champions League final rematch with Bayern Munich . AC Milan , beaten by English club Tottenham in Tuesday 's last-16 , first-leg tie in Europe 's top club competition , will look to bounce back with victory at Chievo on Sunday . Napoli can regain second place with victory at home to Catania . Inter caught the Cagliari defense unawares for the early winner , as a quickly-taken free-kick by Samuel Eto ' o set up a chance for Goran Pandev , whose blocked shot was returned goalwards by on-loan Morocco midfielder Houssine Kharja and into the net off Ranocchia . It was the 23-year-old Italy international 's first goal since joining from Genoa last month . Gattuso says sorry for Jordan 'head-butt ' It proved to be a match of few clear-cut chances as Inter missed the creativity of playmaker Wesley Sneijder , who was rested after injuring his groin in Wednesday 's 2-1 win over Fiorentina . Coach Leonardo also left out Brazil defender Lucio ahead of German club Bayern 's visit to the San Siro . `` We struggled a bit but the main thing is that we got the three points , '' Inter fullback Maicon told the club 's website . `` AC Milan ? We 're just concentrating on ourselves , but having us breathing down their necks wo n't make things easy for them . And now we can focus on the Champions League . '' The defeat left former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni 's Sardinians in ninth place , 17 points off the lead . Seventh-placed Palermo 's hopes of qualifying for the European Champions League were dented by a 1-0 defeat at Bologna in Saturday 's only other Serie A match . The visitors played the final half-hour with only 10 men after Santiago Garcia was booked for the second time , and Bologna took advantage as substitute Daniele Paponi headed the only goal in the 90th minute . The result left Palermo five points behind fourth-placed Lazio , who host bottom club Bari on Sunday . Bologna took a big step towards safety , moving 10 points clear of the relegation zone .
Inter also give the city the top two places in league with 1 - 0 win over Cagliari . Defending champions now just two points adrift of champions AC Milan , who play Sunday . Inter battle to qualify ahead of Champions League final rematch with Bayern Munich . Seventh - placed Palermo beaten by Bologna after having a player sent off .