Inter stretches clear as Juve falls flat at San Siro
An own goal from Federico Gatti in the first half gave Inter Milan a 1-0 win at home against second-placed Juventus, increasing the Nerazzurri's lead at the top of Serie A to four points, and with a game in hand.
Inter could have had more were it not for a combination of the woodwork and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who made two stunning saves in the second half to deny what looked like being certain goals for Nicolo Barella and substitute Marko Arnautovic after Hakan Calhanoglu had grazed the right-hand post.
Inter took the lead eight minutes before the break when a cross into the box eluded Benjamin Pavard's attempt at a scissor kick and instead struck the stomach of Juve defender Gatti, who deflected the ball into his own net under pressure from Marcus Thuram.
Inter sits top of the pile on 57 points from Juventus on 54, while AC Milan is third on 49 points after its late win over Frosinone.
Inter had started brightly against Juve, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s long-range effort deflecting just wide.
Federico Dimarco went close in the 18th minute when he met a cross from Benjamin Pavard at the back post, but sent a volley into the side-netting.
Calhanoglu picked out Dimarco with a crossfield pass, which the Inter winger then laid on to Thuram, who looked set to slot the ball in, but Juve’s Brazilian defender Bremer made a superb saving tackle.
Juve threatened when Weston McKennie pushed forwards and played in Dusan Vlahovic, but the Serbian forward’s first touch was too heavy.
Inter, playing a first match at home in a month after two away trips were sandwiched by Super Cup success in Saudi Arabia, eventually made its pressure count in the 37th minute.
After Pavard missed his scissor-kick at a cross in from the right, Thuram just failed to connect with his diving header as the ball bobbled towards goal, then bounced off Gatti for an own goal.
After a slow start to the second half, Inter almost doubled its lead just before the hour when Calhanoglu’s shot hit the outside of the post.
Gatti nearly made amends with an equaliser when his shot flew just wide, before Szczesny made his incredible save from Barella's well-struck volley.
With three minutes left, Szczesny produced a second world-class save at full stretch to deny Arnautovic at point-blank range as he looked to knock in a cross through the Juve penalty area from fellow substitute Denzel Dumfries.
Massimiliano Allegri’s side suffered just a second league defeat of the season, bringing to an end its 19-match unbeaten run through all competitions.
