JUVENTUS 1-0 INTER

TURIN - A valiant Inter display ultimately ended in defeat as Cuadrado's fine first-half strike was enough for Juventus to claim the three points.

Pioli decided to mix things up at Juventus Stadium, picking Murillo, Medel and Miranda as a back three. Joao Mario and Perisic supported Icardi, with Gagliardini and Brozovic in the engine room and Candreva and D'Ambrosio down the flanks.

Juventus threatened as early as the second minute. Lichtsteiner escaped down the right and crossed for Mandzukic whose cushioned header was volleyed acrobatically by Dybala. Handanovic was there to beat the ball away, however. Inter came forward, winning a corner after a nice combination between Candreva and Gagliardini.

The Nerazzurri had the woodwork to thank on 12 minutes: Pjanic rolled the ball to Dybala to his right and the Argentine's curling left-footed effort cannoned back off the crossbar. Inter responded by winning a corner and Gagliardini fired a shot narrowly over with his left as the ball broke to him from the resulting set-piece.

Inter nearly took the lead midway through the first period. Joao Mario found space between the lines, worked a shooting angle and dragged his shot narrowly wide despite wrongfooting Buffon. Five minutes later, Perisic dug out a cross for Gagliardini who couldn't, however, generate enough power to trouble Buffon. On the half-hour mark, Higuain scuffed a shot wide with his left having made an intelligent run towards the near post.

Just before the break, both sides created good chances. First Mandzukic hurled himself at Cuadrado's cross but sent his diving header back across goal and wide. Then Icardi nipped in ahead of Chiellini but couldn't steer home Perisic's low centre. With virtually the last kick of the half, Juventus broke the deadlock. Pjanic's free-kick was bound for the top corner but Handanovic tipped it over with the help of the crossbar. Cuadrado was lurking on the edge of the area from the resulting corner and drilled a half-volley into the back of the net.

There were no changes for either team after the interval, with Medel making a fine challenge to dispossess Higuain within the first minute of the second half. The Bianconeri were the more dangerous side at the start of the second period, with Handanovic getting down well to deny Pjanic from Higuain's pass. Pioli made his first two substitutions on the hour mark, bringing on Kondogbia and Eder for Brozovic and Candreva respectively. The game came to life at the end. Joao Mario's free-kick was flicked on by D'Ambrosio for Gagliardini at the back post but he was just beaten to it as he prepared to tuck the ball home. Icardi meanwhile failed to seal a nice counter on 67 minutes, firing over the bar from the edge of the box.

Inter poured forward but again Juventus went close through Higuain, as Handanovic punched away the Argentine's powerful drive. At the other end, Eder was denied on the edge of the box, allowing Marchisio to clear. Palacio was Pioli's last throw of the dice but once again it was Juventus who could have scored, first through Higuain and then Mandzukic, Handanovic making a fine reflex save from the latter. Just before added time, Perisic bombed on down the left flank and Buffon showed sharp reactions to intercept his low cross. Handanovic came up for a corner deep into stoppage time but Mr Rizzoli blew for a foul against the Nerazzurri and booked the keeper for dissent. Perisic also picked up a caution - his second - for protesting and was dismissed. There was to be no meaningful action after that.

Juventus 1-0 Inter (HT: 1-0)
Scorers: Cuadrado 45

Juventus: 1 Buffon; 26 Lichtsteiner (23 Dani Alves 80), 19 Bonucci, 3 Chiellini, 12 Alex Sandro; 5 Pjanic, 6 Khedira; 7 Cuadrado (8 Marhisio 70), 21 Dybala (24 Rugani 84), 17 Mandzukic; 9 Higuain.
Subs not used: 25 Neto, 32 Audero, 4 Benatia, 20 Pjaca, 22 Asamoah, 27 Sturaro, 28 Rincon, 38 Mandragora.
Coach: Massimiliano Allegri.

Inter: 1 Handanovic; 24 Murillo, 17 Medel, 25 Miranda; 87 Candreva (23 Eder 58), 5 Gagliardini, 77 Brozovic (7 Kondogbia 58), 33 D'Ambrosio; 6 Joao Mario (8 Palacio 79), 44 Perisic; 9 Icardi.
Subs not used: 30 Carrizo, 2 Andreolli, 11 Biabiany, 15 Ansaldi, 19 Banega, 21 Santon, 55 Nagatomo, 96 Barbosa, 99 Pinamonti.
Coach: Stefano Pioli.

Booked: Candreva (7'), Pjanic (23'), Medel (43'), Mandzukic (46'), Cuadrado (63'), Khedira (65'), Chiellini (73'), Handanovic (93')
Sent off: Perisic (93')
Added time: 1+4 minutes.

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