Arturo Vidal replied to Mauro Icardi in a hard-fought 1-1 Derby d’Italia draw between Inter and Juventus.
The Derby d’Italia was also a top of the table clash, as both teams had a 100 per cent record after two rounds. Mirko Vucinic and Andrea Barzagli shook off knocks from international duty to start, while Claudio Marchisio and Martin Caceres were injured. The Nerazzurri picked Saphir Taider in place of Mateo Kovacic with Diego Milito on the bench for the first time since snapping knee ligaments in February.
This was Antonio Conte’s 100th match on the Juventus bench and the Bianconeri had won their last two visits to San Siro. Over 83,000 were packed into the stadium.
Yuto Nagatomo had the first real scoring opportunity on 12 minutes, his volley from a poorly cleared corner beaten away at the near post by Gigi Buffon.
There was controversy soon after when Arturo Vidal burst into the box and was rugby tackled by Taider, but the goal-line assistant ruled the Chilean had handled first. Replays suggest if there was contact, it was extremely light.
Juve began to pin Inter back into their own half and Samir Handanovic had to parry a Paul Pogba scuffed volley at the near post from an Andrea Pirlo ball over the top.
Stephan Lichtsteiner risked a second yellow card, infuriating Conte, but did well to intercept Rodrigo Palacio’s assist for Nagatomo. Ricky Alvarez robbed Pirlo to spark a counter-attack and Buffon needed his legs to deny Taider at the near stick.
Lichtsteiner was substituted at the break because he was on that yellow card, making way for former Inter transfer target Mauricio Isla.
Palacio’s free header was straight at Buffon after the restart, then Tevez broke away from Nagatomo, but his pass for Vidal was wayward and the angled drive from the Chilean flashed across the face of goal.
Mauro Icardi was introduced, having scored three goals against Juve for Sampdoria last season, and a series of shots were charged down in the Bianconeri box.
It proved an inspired substitution by Mazzarri, as Icardi broke the deadlock. Alvarez robbed Giorgio Chiellini and burst forward, so Icardi got between centre-backs and smashed it past Buffon at the near post.
However, the lead did not last long, as Vidal equalised 80 seconds later at San Siro. Kwadwo Asamoah did well to reach the by-line and pull back for the Chilean, who picked his spot and drilled into the far bottom corner from 12 yards. There were four defenders around Vidal, but he reacted quicker and it was the first goal Inter have conceded this season.
Moments later it was almost 2-1 for Juventus, as the Tevez angled drive skimmed the upright and Handanovic smothered a long-range Pogba effort.
On 88 minutes Tevez chipped a cross for Vidal’s header, forcing a desperate Handanovic save, but Isla scuffed the follow-up wide from six yards.
