Inter Milan could lose their place at the top of Serie A on Sunday after being held to a draw by Palermo.

Diego Milito put the Nerazzurri in front in the 11th minute, but Edison Cavani replied for the Sicilians in the 24th minute.

Both sides had chances to win the game, but a draw was ultimately the fair result and one which gives AC Milan the chance to move to the top of the pile by beating Napoli on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Roma, who Inter face next weekend, are now just four points behind as the Serie A title race opens up.

The point also takes Palermo two points ahead of Juventus in the race for fourth spot, which would also be worth a place in the Champions League next season.

Inter appeared to show few signs of tiredness, either mentally or physically, from their midweek Champions League win over Chelsea as they took the game to their hosts.

Milito hit the post from a very tight angle in the seventh minute after getting in round the back of the Palermo defence.

The Argentinian striker then put Inter ahead from the penalty spot after Lucio was pulled down by Cesare Bovo, who was booked for his subsequent protests.

It appeared that both players had been tugging on each other's shirt, but Bovo was punished as both players ended up on a pile inside the penalty area.

Milito struck the spot-kick straight down the middle to give Jose Mourinho's side the lead.

Milito almost grabbed his and Inter's second in the 17th minute, but he flashed his header just inches over the crossbar from seven yards out.

It was a costly miss as, just seven minutes later, the Rosaneri levelled.

Fabrizio Miccoli moved in from the right and delivered a perfect pass into the path of Cavani, who beat Julio Cesar inside his near post from 10 yards.

Palermo grew in confidence and, early in the second half, they had a chance to go ahead with Cavani heading wide from another assist from Miccoli.

Mourinho responded by bringing Goran Pandev on for Dejan Stankovic, replicating the team he had fielded at Stamford Bridge in midweek with three strikers ahead of Wesley Sneijder.

It was clear the Nerazzurri were going to go all out for the win and they came close to getting it with 15 minutes remaining when Walter Samuel's header flashed just wide.

Palermo almost had the last laugh, though, when Miccoli tested Julio Cesar with a direct free-kick, but the Inter goalkeeper made the save to secure a point for Inter and move them two points clear at the top, until Milan face Napoli on Sunday.