Sneijder scores as Inter thump Bari

Rome: Inter Milan moved up to third in the Serie A following a 3-0 win over Bari on Thursday.

Inter was seven points behind leader AC Milan, with a game in hand.

The only game on Thursday was a bland affair until midway through the second half when Houssine Kharja produced a rare moment of inspiration for his first goal since arriving on loan from Genoa at the end of the transfer window.

Giampaolo Pazzini then scored his third in two games since signing from Sampdoria, and just before the final whistle Wesley Sneijder was left unmarked for the third.

"It isn't easy, but the three goals I have scored in two games has helped us win twice," Pazzini said. "We had a good first half and tried to keep the tempo high. We lacked a bit of rhythm, but improved in the second half."

Bari had the best chance of the first half when Sergio Almiron forced Inter 'keeper Julio Cesar into a sprawling save with a powerful free kick.

After the break neither side improved, though Alessandro Parisi made Cesar pull off another save and Sneijder blasted over from close range.

Inter took the lead in the 70th and gave the game some spark. The Moroccan played a return pass with Samuel Eto'o and fired a low shot into the corner of the goal past Jean-Francois Gillet.

Three minutes later Parisi went close again, but Cesar pushed his powerful volley away for a corner.

With 10 minutes remaining Cesar again came to Inter's rescue by stopping Alessandro Gazzi's effort.

In injury time Pazzini cut in from the left and lashed a shot past Gillet and then Sneijder had time and space to score his first league goal of the season.