Juventus 0-1 Inter: Calhanoglu´s penalty seals Derby d´Italia triumph

Inter kept alive their Serie A title hopes with a 1-0 Derby d’Italia win over Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

Simone Inzaghi’s side were second best in the first half, yet they went ahead moments before the interval courtesy of Hakan Calhanoglu’s twice-taken penalty.

Juve huffed and puffed in the second half but they were unable to find the leveller that would have stretched their unbeaten run in the Italian top flight to 17 games.

The result meant Inter remain in third, three points behind leaders Milan, while Massimiliano Allegri’s Juve stay in fourth, seven points behind the Rossoneri having played a game more.

2008/09 – Inter have remained unbeaten in both the seasonal Serie A meetings against Juventus for the first time since the 2008/09 campaign, winning their first away top-flight match against the Bianconeri since November 2012. Resistance.#SerieA #JuveInter pic.twitter.com/s63gqGkmth

— OptaPaolo  (@OptaPaolo) April 3, 2022

Juve started at a breakneck pace, and they almost went ahead in the ninth minute when Giorgio Chiellini diverted Samir Handanovic’s dismal punch onto the crossbar from close range.

Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado went close from distance soon after, while Alvaro Morata headed across the face of goal from a promising position.

Despite Juve’s dominance, Inter went in at the break ahead in dramatic circumstances.

Wojciech Szczesny kept out Calhanoglu’s initial spot-kick after Morata had clipped Denzel Dumfries, yet the ball ended up in the back of the net following an almighty scramble.

Referee Massimiliano Irrati chalked that off, though, after a Juve player had stepped into the area too early, with Calhanoglu making no mistake from 12 yards at the second time of asking.

Dusan Vlahovic whipped wide after a smart turn shortly after the hour mark, before substitute Denis Zakaria thumped the post as Juve’s unbeaten run ended with a whimper. 

What does it mean? Inter’s smash and grab

This was only Inter’s second away victory over Juventus in their past 16 attempts across all competitions, and there is little doubt they rode their luck.

A dominant Juve finished the game having had 23 shots, while the Nerazzurri managed a mere five, with just one on target. That was the one that mattered, though.

Brozovic puts in a shift

Marcelo Brozovic was solid as a rock at the heart of Inter’s midfield. The Croatia international had more touches (74) than any Inter player, while his seven tackles was two more than anyone else on the pitch.

Martinez shackled

Lautaro Martinez is Inter’s top scorer in Serie A this season, but he did not have a sniff here. The Argentina international failed to have a single shot before he was replaced by Joaquin Correa in the 59th minute, while he might consider himself fortunate to have avoided a second yellow card for a late challenge on Chiellini.

What’s next?

Both sides are next in action on Saturday when Juve visit Cagliari and Inter host Hellas Verona.