It was always going to be a very tight encounter between Internazionale and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on Sunday evening, and it was the hosts who emerged victorious with a hugely valuable 1-0 scoreline. An own goal from Federico Gatti proved to be the difference as it separated the sides on the night, with Inter consolidating top spot in the Serie A standings.
Inter continued their perfect start to 2024 with a 1-0 win over Juventus at San Siro to move four points clear at the top of Serie A.
The hosts dominated the game’s early goings but Simone Inzaghi’s side struggled to create any chances of note against a stern Juve defence.
Dusan Vlahovic’s poor touch squandered the visitors’ best chance of the first half and they were made to pay just minutes later when Federico Gatti bundled Nicolo Barella’s cross into his own net to give the Nerazzurri a deserved lead at the break.
As the game opened up after half-time, both sides had good opportunities to score, with Hakan Calhanoglu striking the post and Gatti firing wide with a fierce strike from the edge of the box.
Inter should have put the game out of sight late on but a superb pair of saves from Wojciech Szczesny – first to deny Barella’s volley, then to stop Marko Arnautovic’s effort from point-blank range – kept faint Juve hopes alive.
But Massimiliano Allegri’s side were unable to find a late equaliser, losing for the first time this year and dropping vital points in the race for the Scudetto.
TALKING POINT – INTER TAKE CHARGE OF SERIE A TITLE RACE WITH DESERVED WIN
It is perhaps still too early in the season to label tonight’s Derby d’Italia as a title decider but having moved four points clear at the top of the table with tonight’s deserved win at San Siro, Inter and their fans will surely be dreaming of a 20th Scudetto.
It was a performance befitting of a team that have yet to drop a point since the turn of year, dominating possession in the first half and unlucky not to double, if not treble, their lead late in the second half. Ending Juventus’ 19-game unbeaten run was never going to be easy, but the manner in which Simone Inzaghi’s side dealt with their main title rivals must surely send a loud message to the chasing pack.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – HAKAN CALHANOGLU (INTER)
With both teams employing the same 3-5-2 formation, it was going to be the midfield battle that went a long way to deciding this contest. To that end, Calhanoglu was superb, covering every blade of grass, making over 100 passes and winning all of his duels. It was an all-action display from the Turkish international who has become the heartbeat of this Inter engine room and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he hit the post midway through the second half.
PLAYER RATINGS
Inter: Sommer 6, Bastoni 7, Acerbi 7, Pavard 8, Dimarco 7, Mkhitaryan 7, Calhanoglu 8, Barella 6, Darmian 6, Martinez 6, Thuram 7. Subs: Augusto 6, Dumfries 6, Arnautovic 6, De Vrij n/a, Klaasen n/a.
Juventus: Szczesny 7, Danilo 7, Bremer 6, Gatti 6, Kostic 5, Rabiot 6, Locatelli 6, McKennie 7, Cambiaso 5, Vlahovic 6, Yildiz 6. Subs: Weah 6, Chiesa 6, Sandro n/a, Miretti n/a, Alcaraz n/a.
