18 September 2016
Juventus succumbed to their first league reverse of the season, just their second in 32 Serie A outings, as goals from Mauro Icardi and Ivan Perisic cancelled out Stephan Lichtsteiner’s second-half opener at the San Siro.
After a cagey and tightly fought first period, the game came to life after the break as Icardi and Perisic struck within ten minutes of each other, the former equalising moments after Lichtsteiner had smashed home from close range, to swing the 167th Derby d’Italia in favour of the hosts.
Frank De Boer’s side would complete the tie with ten men after Ever Banega was dismissed for two bookable offences but in the end it would matter little as the Bianconeri failed to muster the game’s fourth goal in the closing stages.
Happy to cede possession to their hosts early on, the reigning champions carved out the first half’s more presentable openings, Sami Khedira surging in behind only to see the offside flag raised and Paulo Dybala seeing a snap shot blocked at point-blank range.
From then up to the half-hour mark, genuine scoring chances would prove to be at a premium until Khedira headed straight at Samir Handanovic from Alex Sandro’s excellent left-wing cross and Inter forward Icardi flashed wide from an acute angle on 35 minutes.
Moments later the Bianconeri were unlucky to see Miralem Pjanic’s effort bounce just inches past the post with Handanovic beaten as the interval beckoned.
Although Inter began the second half the stronger, it would be Juventus who took the lead on 66 minutes, Lichtsteiner crashing home from inside the six-yard box after Alex Sandro’s slalom to the dead-ball line.
The celebrations of the Swiss’ first strike of the campaign were short-lived however as Icardi rose highest to nod home from a corner no more than a minute later and, within 11, the Bianconeri were behind courtesy of Perisic’s back-post header, the Croatian netting with his first real touch of the ball after coming off the bench.
Juve pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, substitute Gonzalo Higuain going closest with an excellent glancing header after more fine offensive work from Alex Sandro but ultimately could not break down their hosts who pick up their first home win over the Old Lady in seven attempts.
