Inter vs Juventus: Inter move closer to Serie A title with last-gasp 3-2 Derby d'Italia win
Inter Milan edged Juventus 3-2 in a dramatic Derby d'Italia at the San Siro on Saturday night (ET), a finish that left the home crowd in delirium and stretched Inter's lead at the top of Serie A. Piotr Zieliński's stoppage-time strike sealed a win that hinged on a contentious red card and late-game momentum swings.
Turning points and controversy
The game featured multiple momentum shifts. An early mishap saw Andrea Cambiaso put the hosts ahead with an own-goal, only for the Juventus full-back to atone by equalising on 32 minutes and keeping the contest level heading toward halftime. Just before the interval the match took a decisive turn when Pierre Kalulu was shown a second yellow and sent off. The decision provoked heated reaction from Juventus players and staff and changed the tactical landscape for the second half.
With Juventus down to ten men, the pendulum swung toward Inter. Pio Esposito restored Inter's advantage after the break, but Juventus refused to fold, and Manuel Locatelli produced a brilliant leveller with seven minutes remaining to make it 2-2. The drama did not end there: at the death, Zieliński produced a composed finish to win it for the hosts and send the San Siro into raptures.
What the result means for the title race
The victory puts Inter in a vastly stronger position as the season approaches its final third. The win moves Inter clear at the summit and deepens the gap over their nearest rivals, reinforcing their status as favourites for the Scudetto. What had looked like a multi-team contest earlier in the campaign now appears to be tilting in favour of the Nerazzurri.
Head coach Cristian Chivu has steadied the club since taking charge, guiding Inter through an impressive run of form. Inter have won 11 of their last 12 league matches and have recorded five clean sheets in their past nine outings, while churning out goals at a high rate. The balance of defensiveness and attacking threat under Chivu has made the side difficult to break down and dangerous on the counter and in possession.
Player form and immediate implications
Individual contributions have underpinned Inter's charge. Lautaro Martínez continues to lead the line with devastating consistency; his recent scoring run has him firmly in contention for the league's top scorer honour. Federico Dimarco has also been revitalised this campaign, offering end product from his wide defensive role and contributing both goals and assists at a high level.
Juventus, despite the setback, showed character in the second half and might feel hard done by the sending-off that altered the contest. The visitors fought back superbly to earn parity late on and would have taken a deserved point before conceding in stoppage time. The fixture exposed both Juventus' resilience and the fine margins that now separate the sides at the top of Italian football.
Looking ahead, Inter will aim to maintain momentum and protect their lead in the weeks to come, while Juventus must regroup quickly if they are to salvage domestic ambitions that now look increasingly remote. The match will be dissected for days — not just for the late winner, but for the officiating decision that arguably determined the course of the Derby d'Italia.
