19 March 2023
Juventus defeated Inter in the 180th Derby d'Italia in Serie A. Filip Kostić scored the only goal of the game on 23 minutes.
It was the Bianconeri's 100th goal at Inter in Serie A as Juve won both league encounters against their old foes without conceding for the first time since season 1976/77.
THE MATCH
A well-drilled Juventus allowed Inter early possession, in fact, the home side would dominate possession in the first half, but Wojciech Szczęsny was seldom employed.
It looked like it might have been a more complicated opening for the Polish goalkeeper when as early as the second minute he parried a Nicolò Barella long-range effort. Federico Gatti, Bremer and Danilo kept their attention high at all times, and just once was the backline punctured.
On 17’ Romelu Lukaku linked up with Barella at the 18-yard line to play the midfielder in behind the Juve defence. Barella’s shot was powerful but straight at Szczęsny, who with the help of his body deflected the ball out for a corner.
Five minutes later an incisive counter attack, led by Adrien Rabiot, gave Juve the lead.
The midfielder latched on to a loose ball inside the centre circle. A quick exchange with Dušan Vlahović allowed him to make inroads to the edge of the area, where he picked out Filip Kostić. The number 17 took one touch before biding his time and driving the ball across the face of André Onana’s goal, where it nestled in at the far corner.
Five minutes of VAR consultation confirmed that there was no use of the hand by Rabiot in the build-up. Juve’s lead was confirmed.
Matias Soulé had the ball at his feet with an opportunity to punish Inter further but the teenager, a surprise inclusion by Massimiliano Allegri in the starting XI, just couldn’t coordinate himself for the shot.
As the game headed towards the interval Lukaku headed wide. Juve saw out the five minutes of stoppage time to reach the break with the most slender of advantages.
The second half started with Juve adopting the same tactics, allowing Inter to keep control of the ball and looking to hit on the counter attack.
The tactics almost worked to perfection on 52’ when Kostić delivered a low ball into the area after another lung-bursting run. Matteo Darmian slid across to stop the ball arriving at the feet of Vlahović. At the other end, Manuel Locatelli charged down Hakan Çalhanoğlu, just as the Inter midfielder was shaping up for a shot at the edge of the area.
The Juve number five then popped up in attack, drilling in a shot that was dealt with by Onana.
As the game headed into the final 20 minutes, both sides created chances to add to the game’s solitary goal. Federico Chiesa, who had come on for Soulè, galloped down the field but fired just wide. Federico Gatti made a timely lunge inside his own area just ahead of Lukaka. On the counter attack, Kostić and Rabiot linked up to devastating effect. This time the Serb’s shot was deflected just wide.
A minute later Locatelli followed up an attack he started after yet another crunching tackle. Chiesa’s cross was tipped away by Onana as Locatelli was hurtling forwards for the tap in.
The tension never abated but the chances became fewer in the closing minutes of normal time, and the seven minutes of stoppages.
Finally the referee blew the whistle and Juve could celebrate back-to-back wins against Inter in Serie A this season. However, passions spilled over at the end of the match, resulting in the sendings off of Danilo D’Ambrosio and Leandro Parades.
INTER 0-1 JUVENTUS (HT: 0-1)
Scorers: 23’ Kostić
INTER: Onana; Darmian (79′ Correa), De Vrij, Acerbi; Dumfries (82′ Bellanova), Barella (62′ Mkhitaryan), Brozovic, Calhanoglu, Dimarco (62′ D’Ambrosio); Lautaro Martinez, Lukaku (79′ Dzeko). Subs not used: Handanovic, Cordaz, Gagliardini, Asllani, Carboni, Zanotti, Fontanarosa. Coach: Inzaghi.
JUVENTUS: Szczęsny; Gatti, Bremer, Danilo; De Sciglio (75’ Cuadrado), Fagioli, Locatelli, Rabiot, Kostic; Soulé (66′ Chiesa) (82′ Paredes), Vlahovic. Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Perin; Bonucci, Rugani, Barrenechea; Di Maria, Sekulov, Iling-Junior. Coach: Allegri.
Referee: Chiffi
BOOKINGS: 30′ Barella, 31′ Gatti, 71′ Rabiot, 88′ Danilo, 90’+1′ Paredes, 90+7’ D’Ambrosio, 90+7’ Brozovic
SENDINGS OFF: Paredes, D’Ambrosio (after final whistle)
