Juventus vs Inter Review
Juventus secured a spot in the Serie A top four with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Inter Milan in the Derby d’Italia at Allianz Stadium, maintaining the only unbeaten home record in the league this season with 13 matches. The previous encounter this season ended in a surprising 4-4 draw, which was unusual for both teams, as they are known for having two of the strongest defenses in Italian football.
After a strong start from Inter, the 184th Serie A matchup came alive with opportunities for both teams. The Nerazzurri nearly took the lead when Lautaro Martínez’s cross was headed over the bar by Denzel Dumfries, just after Mehdi Taremi’s overhead kick was saved by Michele Di Gregorio. Juventus responded with Nicolás González and Francisco Conceição both testing Yann Sommer with low shots, with Conceição’s effort particularly challenging for the Swiss goalkeeper.
Although Inter maintained more control over the match, Juventus continued to create chances, with a deflection off Alessandro Bastoni stopping Randal Kolo Muani’s volley from reaching the goal. At the other end, Martínez missed a significant opportunity to score, shooting over from a well-placed cutback by Dumfries. The Dutch wing-back posed a constant threat to Juventus in the first half and nearly scored just before halftime when his shot hit the post.
Both coaches made adjustments during the break, leading to a tighter game with few chances in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Simone Inzaghi made a triple substitution around the hour mark, bringing on Marcus Thuram, who quickly became a threat. His cutback was met by Dumfries, but he was denied by a combination of Di Gregorio and the post. This save proved vital, as Juventus rallied to take the lead with Conceição scoring after Kolo Muani’s impressive play to evade defenders and set up the winger.
Inter had struggled to score more than once in 10 of their last 11 league matches against Juve, and their slim hopes of a comeback were almost dashed early on when Teun Koopmeiners aimed for goal, but Dumfries managed to clear it off the line. The visitors’ response was lacking in determination, as they held onto possession but failed to create significant chances. Consequently, their disappointing league form continues, with only one win in four games, missing the opportunity to climb to the top of the table ahead of Napoli. On the other hand, it’s a significant victory for the Bianconeri, marking their third consecutive home league win this season.
