No fixture in Italian football is bigger than the Derby d’Italia, which pits Milan against Turin as two of the peninsula’s biggest clubs, Inter Milan and Juventus, lock horns with history fanning the flames of hostility. Juventus headed for San Siro on Sunday evening in inconsistent form. Their imperious hosts have settled nicely so far under Rafael Benitez.
The game was a relatively evenly matched goalless draw, with attack after attack being threatened by both sides but the defences ultimately triumphing over their invading opponents. The two goalkeepers had only occasional work to deal with and yet this was a very watchable encounter.
Like Napoli’s win over Roma earlier in the day, the meeting of the Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri began at a frantic tempo, with the home side far more incisive and Juve unable to find black and white shirts with their final passes. In the 15th minute, the lively Brazilian teenager Philippe Coutinho was unceremoniously hacked down by Leonardo Bonucci as Inter began to turn the screw.
Serbian winger Milos Krasic had the first worthwhile shot on goal, volleying just wide of Julio Cesar’s goal in the 21st minute. A minute later he created a yard of space against Cristian Chivu and smashed a deadly ball across the six yard box, which the Inter keeper had to help out of play with Vincenzo Iaquinta advancing. Krasic’s emergence in the game heralded a period of Juventus dominance in the middle of the first half and La Vecchia Signora won a long succession of corners which were mostly well defended.
Iaquinta had a goal disallowed in the 32nd minute, tapping in from a clearly offside position after another impressive run and pass by Krasic. At the other end, a brilliant mazy run by Samuel Eto’o almost provided substitute Diego Milito with a clear opportunity just before the break, the Cameroon international drifting past three Bianconeri like they weren’t even there.
The same combination came close to scoring with the last chance of the first period, Eto’o's in-swinging cross finding the Argentine at the back post but he was unable to turn the ball into Marco Storari’s net.
The opening minutes of the second half offered little but remained just as even as much of the first. Ten minutes after the break another fantastic, lightning-quick run from Eto’o turned a clearance into an Inter corner in a matter of seconds. Krasic forced a save from Julio Cesar on the hour as the tempo returned to the game. Inter soon returned fire, Storari unable to hold a low drive by Wesley Sneijder.
Storari had to be right on his game to hold on to a Maicon header in the 67th minute under pressure from Lucio, who was lurking as the Juve goalkeeper took a split-second too long to get the ball under his control. A minute later it was Julio Cesar who did well, turning Fabio Quagliarella’s one-on-one effort wide of goal. The chances were beginning to flow and the Bianconeri were undoubtedly encouraged by the introduction as a substitute of Alessandro Del Piero.
13 minutes from time Inter had a golden opportunity. Esteban Cambiasso found Milito in the area and the striker should have buried it but dragged his weak effort wide.
Two tired sides looked reasonably happy with a point apiece, but the day ended with Inter behind Lazio in the Serie A table. For Juventus, the performance was probably more important than the result in any case.
Tags: Inter Milan, Juventus, Serie A