Ibrahimovic’s second half goals meant Jose Mourinho’s team will finish the weekend on top regardless of what happens in other matches as Juventus, three points behind Inter, have already played in a 4-1 win against Genoa on Thursday.

AC Milan and Napoli, who are in equal third spot four points behind Inter, play Chievo and Atalanta on Sunday.

Ibrahimovic simply had a superb match. Known as “Ibracadabra,” the Swedish striking magician found the net in the 46th and 64th minutes to spell the end for Palermo.

An uneventful first half gave way to more incidents in the second.

Ibrahimovic, largely left unattended by the Palermo defence, opened the scoring with a powerful 25-metre shot which left keeper Alberto Fontana with little chance.

He then doubled his striking tally with a just-as-powerful 20-metre freekick which Fontana was once more unable to do much about.

In between the goals, the hapless Sicilian keeper was a little lucky that the rampant Ibrahimovic had not found the net as he parried away another shot from the on-form Swede.

Sunday’s programme of matches sees capital city rivals AS Roma, in great difficulty in 17th spot, and fifth-placed Lazio clash in their Olympic stadium.