24 October 2021
A hard-fought encounter at the San Siro saw both teams leave with a point following a 1-1 draw between Inter Milan and Juventus in their Serie A match-up on Sunday evening.
Backed by a vocal San Siro crowd, the early exchanges went the way of Inter with Edin Dzeko making his presence felt up top for the hosts. Yet it was his opposite number Alvaro Morata who would force the first save of the game, stinging the palms of Samir Handanovic as a loose ball from a Juventus free-kick fell at the Spaniard’s feet.
An unfortunate shoulder injury to Federico Bernardeschi saw the Italian require treatment on the sidelines, during which the hosts broke the deadlock: Hakan Calhanoglu tried his luck from range, his deflected effort hitting the crossbar as the ball ricocheted back kindly to Dzeko, who tucked it home to give the hosts an early lead.
With Bernardeschi unable to continue, coach Massimiliano Allegri had to re-shuffle his pack, bringing on Rodrigo Bentancur after less than 20 minutes played.
Forced into action after going a goal down, Juve upped the tempo, pressing high as they went in search of a leveller. Juan Cuadrado, in search of his sixth goals against the Nerazzurri, struck a powerful effort from range, the ball skidding narrowly wide of the host’s upright.
Riding the wave of Juve’s threat, Inter then asserted themselves once more, fashioning several half-chances to keep the Bianconeri backline in check. Yet the visitors would end the first stanza with the best chance, a Cuadrado free-kick finding Alex Sandro whose blocked effort found Leonardo Bonucci lurking, but his snapshot at goal sailed wide of the mark.
A cagey second stanza saw few goalmouth opportunities fall for either side, Dzeko’s glanced header failing to trouble Wojciech Szczesny, while Morata couldn’t head a floated ball on the bounce goalwards at the other end of the pitch.
With 25 minutes to go, Mister Allegri made a double change, bringing on attacking talents Paulo Dybala and Federico Chiesa to help pry open the Inter defense. The duo immediately added a spark into the Bianconeri attack, their quick passing and nippy runs giving a new dimension to the Juve frontline. A Dybala free-kick soon brought Handanovic into action, while Chiesa’s industrious play from the flanks posed a constant threat.
With three minutes left on the clock, a VAR check ruled in favour of the Bianconeri after Denzil Dumfries’ challenge on Alex Sandro resulted in the visitors being awarded a spot-kick. Substitute Dybala stepped up, sending Handanovic the wrong way to bring the Bianconeri level after 89 minutes played.
And 1-1 it would end, the Derby d’Italia ending all square at the San Siro with a hard-fought point earned to keep the Bianconeri’s steady rise up the Serie A standings on track.
INTER MILAN 1-1 JUVENTUS (HT 1-0)
SCORERS: Dzeko 17’; Dybala 89’
JUVENTUS
Line-up: Szczesny, Chiellini, Danilo, Alex Sandro, Bonucci, Cuadrado (Dybala 65’), McKennie (Arthur 83’), Bernardeschi (Bentancur 18’), Locatelli (Kaio Jorge 83’), Morata, Kulusevski (Chiesa 65’)
Subs not used: Perin, Pinsoglio, De Sciglio, de Ligt, Pellegrini, Rugani, Ramsey.
INTER
Line-up: Handanovic, Skriniar, De Vrij, Bastoni, Darmian, Barella (Vecino 90’), Brozovic, Calhanoglu (Gagliardini 61’), Perisic (Dumfries 72’), Dzeko, Lautaro Martinez (Sanchez 72’)
Subs not used: Cordaz, Radu, Kolarov, Sensi, Ranocchia, Dimarco, D'Ambrosio, Satriano.
