Inter rode their luck on the way to an underwhelming 0-0 home draw against Sassuolo in their first Serie A outing of 2019.
Roberto De Zerbi's men created the best of the opportunities and will count themselves unfortunate not to have snapped what is now a five-match winless streak in all competitions.
San Siro was closed to all but 11,000 local children as Inter began a two-match stadium closure following the alleged racial abuse of Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly last month, although there was no lack of intensity in an entertaining contest.
Matteo Politano and Kevin Prince-Boateng both went close to a winner either side of half-time but, unable to find a way past a team that conceded nine times in their final two league fixtures of last year, the Nerazzurri can have few complaints over a result that leaves them four points behind second-placed Napoli, who host Lazio on Sunday.