Juventus Stuns Inter With Late Victory

Inter Milan players believed they were on the cusp of a victory that would have significant consequences on both the Serie A title race and the battle for Champions League qualification.

However, Juventus escaped defeat with a late victory to retain the title advantage.

Massimiliano Allegri’s charges needed to bounce back following their last-ditch defeat to title rivals Napoli on Sunday. Ahead of kickoff in Milan, they were just one point clear of Maurizio Sarri’s side, Marca reported.

Momentum was supposedly with the Naples club and the performance from Juventus certainly suggested as such.

However, it was to be the visitors who took an early lead through Douglas Costa after just 12 minutes when a hopeful cross found the Brazilian at the back post; he duly volleyed past Samir Handanovic.

Almost straight from the subsequent kickoff, it seemed as if all hope was lost for Luciano Spalletti’s charges, as they self-combusted with Matias Vecino who received a straight red card for a stamp on Mario Mandzukic.

Despite their advantage in both the scoreline and in personnel, Juventus never really pushed on and they seemed quite content to hold on to their one-goal lead.

That was until the 51st minute of play when the hosts equalized from nothing, in what was their first chance of the second half, a free kick was whipped into the penalty area for Mauro Icardi to head home.

It was at this moment that panic seemed to set in for Juventus, their heavily rotated defense were on the ropes and in the 64th minute, Andrea Barzagli turned the ball into his own net.

Inter now led 2-1 and you could already imagine the scenes of celebration in Naples, although it wasn’t to last as the Bianconeri found their resolve, albeit fortuitously.

Paulo Dybala was brought on, yet it was a piece of individual play from Juan Cuadrado, which got them back into the match.

A speedy run into the penalty area took advantage of a lack of awareness from the recently introduced Davide Santon, as the Colombian attempted to deliver a cross from a tight angle, only for a wicked deflection to leave Handanovic with no chance as the ball curled round him and into the far side of the net.

As happened after the opening goal, the hosts were now far from organized and Juventus sensed it with their winning goal coming a minute later.

Dybala was awarded a free kick and he produced a perfect delivery to the penalty spot, Gonzalo Higuain was left unmarked and the Argentine powered a header into the net sending the away bench into delirium.