Inter end Juve unbeaten run before magic 50 mark

Juventus's hopes of extending their unbeaten streak to 50 games were ended in emphatic style in a 3-1 defeat to Inter Milan in the 'Derby d'Italia' on Saturday.

In 10 previous games this season Juve had conceded only five goals as they set out their stall for what looked like a successful defence of their Serie A title.

But despite opening the scoring through Chilean international Arturo Vidal in a dominant first half the Turin giants were outplayed after the interval with Diego Milito grabbing a brace and Rodrigo Palacio firing home their third in the 89th minute to reduce Inter's arrears to just one point.

Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni, whose tactics and approach to this game reportedly came under scrutiny by Juve president Beppe Marotta prior to the match, could not hide his joy after the match: "I've heard some ironic remarks about how we go about things," he told Sky Sports.

"I tried to prepare for this game in the best possible way so it's annoying to hear sarcasm from Juve before the match on Inter's tactical approach. At the final whistle perhaps Marotta might think differently. I just want respect."

Juve's Angelo Alessio, the stand-in coach while Antonio Conte sits out a lengthy touchline ban, was left rueing missed opportunities.

"Unfortunately we lost after 49 games, but Inter took their chances and we didn't. It doesn't matter that it was Inter who did this - we played well and had several chances to double our lead in the first half," he told Sky Sport Italia.
"Inter didn't do much in the first half. But they will certainly be in the Scudetto race to the end."

Juventus came out firing on all cylinders and took the lead in the opening minute.

A textbook attack caught Inter off guard although when Ghanaian midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah latched on to a through ball on the left the Ghanaian midfielder was a metre offside.

Officials did not spot the infringement and when he lashed the ball across the area Vidal slotted home past Samir Handanovic.

Inter had the ball in the net on 12 minutes after Palacio got his head to Esteban Cambassio's freekick but the Argentine striker was ruled offside.

Tensions rose when Swiss midfielder Stephan Lichsteiner hacked down Palacio moments after being shown yellow for a high challenge which left Cambiasso on the ground in pain.

Juventus still had the momentum, however, and Asamoah launched an incisive run down the left before cutting back for Vidal but the Chilean was robbed before he could get his shot away.

Nicklas Bendtner replaced Mirko Vucinic for the second half, but the former Arsenal striker's chances were limited as Inter settled into their game to first level and then take the lead.

Giovinco gave Juve a boost when he dribbled his way into a scoring position before falling foul to a Cambiasso-Samuel sandwich. Marchisio was allowed to force his way towards goal but he shot straight at Handanovic.

At the other end Palacio spurned another chance by hesitating before sending his strike just over Buffon's bar.

Just before the hour mark Inter were awarded a penalty for a controversial handball, and Milito stepped up to send the ball just past Buffon's shoulders to level.

Cassano then came off in place of Colombian Freddy Guarin, and the chance proved inspirational.

When Guarin found space to charge down the right in the 75th minute he unleashed a shot which Buffon did well to save, however the ball rebounded into the path of the advancing Milito, who beat Buffon at his near post.

Juve's chances of salvaging a draw evaoprated when Palacio finished off the good work of Yuto Nagatomo to handed Juve their first league defeat since a reverse against Parma in May 2011.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.