Defending champions Inter Milan extend their winning streak to seven matches after beating Genoa for a Coppa Italia quarter-finals berth.
Inter Milan, the reigning champions of the Coppa Italia, defeated Genoa 2-1 at the San Siro stadium on Thursday to book their passage into the quarter-finals of the competition.

The Nerazzurri didn't put on their finest display, but it was still enough for them to notch up their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions. Inter's goals were scored by Maicon and Andrea Poli, while Valter Birsa scored a late consolation goal for the visitors.

Inter controlled the early moments of the game, and just had to wait nine minutes before Maicon put them ahead with an unstoppable 27-metre missile that found itself in the top left-hand corner of the Genoa goal.

Claudio Ranieri's side appeared to take their foot off the pedal after breaking the deadlock, as they lacked their normal rhythm for the remainder of the half.

Their only other worthwhile attempt on goal in the opening period came from the boot of Dutch international Wesley Sneijder, but his effort was parried away to safety by Genoa goalkeeper Cristiano Lupatelli.

Meanwhile, the visitors played some decent soccer from time to time, but rarely threatened the Inter goal.

Four minutes into the restart Poli doubled Inter's advantage, when the young midfielder sensationally volleyed the ball home after a superb interchange of passes with Joel Obi on the edge of the area.

Inter dominated their opponents from that instance, with the likes of Sneijder and Argentine substitute Mauro Zarate coming close to extending their advantage with decent efforts.

With the result all but settled, a rare attack from the visitors allowed Birsa to score a consolation goal in the second minute of stoppage-time, when he fired home from close-range after an earlier header from Lucas Pratto hit the crossbar.

But the goal arrived much too late, as Inter progressed to the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia where they will meet Napoli in what is expected to be a mouthwatering clash.