MATCH REPORT: JUVENTUS 3-2 INTER
Oh, what a derby.
Juan Cuadrado, the Inter killer.
The referee managed to infuriate both teams with a red card each as Juventus beat Inter 3-2.
Antonio Conte returned to Turin with the Scudetto and the opportunity to knock the Old Lady out of contention for a top-four finish, so was taking no chances with a full-strength side. Andrea Pirlo opted for Dejan Kulusevski in a more advanced role with Cristiano Ronaldo, supported by Federico Chiesa.
Juve had a huge chance in the opening 10 minutes when Federico Chiesa knocked back across for Kulusevski’s cushioned volley, but Milan Skriniar managed to clear off the line.
Inter wanted a second yellow card for Kulusevski, who lost his footing when crashing into Marcelo Brozovic and had tried to stop.
VAR called the referee to view a Matteo Darmian push on Giorgio Chiellini, awarding a penalty. Ronaldo saw his spot-kick parried by Samir Handanovic but tapped in the rebound to put Juventus in front.
The pattern was repeated at the other end 10 minutes later when Matthijs De Ligt trod on the back of Lautaro Martinez’s foot. The referee viewed it on the monitor and again awarded a penalty, which Romelu Lukaku converted. The Belgian joked about breaking the COVID curfew with a late dinner, pretending to be arrested by Hakimi.
Federico Chiesa’s curler was deflected over by Milan Skriniar, but Juve restored their lead on the stroke of half-time when Juan Cuadrado’s scorcher took a big deflection off Christian Eriksen to wrong-foot Handanovic.
Ivan Perisic came on for the second half and Szczesny was fortunate to get away with an error when rushing off his line, while Lautaro Martinez blasted just over the bar.
While Kulusevski was perhaps fortunate to avoid a second yellow, the referee did take a much harsher view on Rodrigo Bentancur for a second booking as he challenged Lukaku.
Szczesny smothered Eriksen’s free-kick, and the referee had already blown for a foul before Lautaro’s spectacular volley. Lautaro was involved again moments later, as he was dragged back by Chiellini outside the box, but the Argentine had previously handled.
Andrea Pirlo tried to park the bus, replacing Ronaldo and Chiesa, but De Ligt needed a decisive interception to stop Lautaro tapping in the Hakimi low cross from four yards.
Matias Vecino came on and within two minutes had the best Inter chance so far, his header was beaten off the line by Szczesny.
Moments later, Chiellini deflected a Nicolò Barella cross into his own net when tussling with Lukaku and the referee disallowed the goal. However, after viewing it on VAR, the official realized it was Chiellini hanging on to Lukaku, so the goal was given and the defender booked.
The drama still wasn’t over, as Cuadrado was then tripped by Ivan Perisic for a penalty, which the Colombian converted.
Marcelo Brozovic received his second yellow card for taking down Cuadrado on the counter, leavi