But they will travel to Turkey knowing they will have to improve in front of goal if they are to make an impression on Europe's premier club competition.

An early goal from Hernan Crespo gave the Nerazzurri the lead, but they found the Sicilians tough to finish off and were not assured of their victory until Cesar grabbed a second with 11 minutes to go.

The hosts received a scare just four minutes in when Mariano Izco took control of the ball inside the Inter penalty area and sent a ball towards the right corner of the goal, only for Julio Cesar to pull off a great save.

At the other end, Crespo's low shot was kept out by Lorenzo Stovini, before Adriano, given his first start of the season, saw his shot deflected wide by the Catania defender.

Luis Figo provided a moment of real quality, taking the ball past Giuseppe Mascara and sending a lob towards goal - but Albano Bizzarri managed to get his fingertips to the ball.

Inter took the lead after 14 minutes and the under-pressure Adriano was involved.

Maicon found the Brazilian striker, who in turn picked out Crespo and the Argentinian scored at the far post.

Adriano could have been on the scoresheet himself eight minutes later but his volley was straight at Bizzarri, who again denied the Brazilian when he shot from outside the box.

And he even had the ball in the net just past the half-hour mark but the referee spotted a foul on Mark Edusei.

Christian Silvestri did his best to even things up before the break but his strike from distance whistled inches past the post.

The second period began in more subdued fashion and there was nearly an hour on the clock when Gionatha Spinesi's shot drifted wide of the Inter goal.

Five minutes later Peru international Juan Vargas tried an audacious volley from wide on the left but could not keep it down.

At the other end, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was wasteful and Bizzarri was quick to deny Adriano the chance of the goal his performance deserved.

The second goal did come for Inter, though, and it was a lovely solo effort from Cesar.

The Brazilian received the ball from Ibrahimovic and surged into the Catania penalty area before coolly finishing,

That finished off Catania's chances of taking anything from the San Siro and Inter almost made it three in stoppage time.

Ibrahimovic's run across the Catania area ended with a fierce left-foot strike and was only kept out by a fine from Bizzarri.

The win was enough to take Inter up to second in the embryonic Serie A standings after Juventus suffered a home defeat at the hands of Udinese.