Mauro Icardi's first-half strike proved enough for Inter Milan to maintain their 100 per cent start to the new Serie A season with a 1-0 win over Chievo in Verona.
But Roberto Mancini's men were fortunate to emerge with the points after finding themselves largely on the back foot against their impressive hosts.
Chievo started the game in second place after going unbeaten through their first three games and coach Rolando Maran will take plenty of encouragement despite the defeat.
Maran's side took control after surviving an early scare when Ivan Perisic's audacious chip from the left landed on the roof of goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri's net.
Lucas Castro probed the Inter defence and drew last-gasp challenges from Jeison Murillo and Geoffrey Kondogbia before heading narrowly over the bar in the 20th minute.
Valter Birsa screwed a free-kick inches over the bar in the 33rd minute before Icardi opened the scoring against the run of play when he flicked home in a crowded box.
Castro should have equalised almost immediately but he fired wide after Birsa's initial effort was well saved by fellow Slovenian Samir Handanovic.
Chievo sustained their pressure for an equaliser after the break, with Alberto Paloschi firing just over the bar then Inter defender Davide Santon blocking an overhead kick from substitute Roberto Inglese.
With Inter's strike force struggling to make an impression, Mancini was increasingly reliant on Perisic to make the game safe with the Croatian a constant threat on the counter-attack.
But for all their hard work Chievo were to be denied a share of the points with defender Bostjan Cesar screwing their last chance wide with time running out.
ends