Inter Milan lost 1-0 against Juventus on Sunday night away from home and failed to climb above Napoli to the top of Serie A.
The visitors were dominant for large periods at the Allianz Stadium, with Denzel Dumfries hitting the post near the end of the first half.
Lautaro Martinez also missed chances in front of goal, but it was Juve that took the lead with just 15 minutes remaining through Francisco Conceicao after a brilliant individual skill from Randal Kolo Muani gave him the room needed to finish past Yann Sommer.
Inter pushed for an equaliser but failed to threaten in the final stages, and the loss means they end the weekend in second place with 54 points, two fewer than leaders Napoli have after 25 games.
As for the hosts, they are in fourth place with 46 points and climb back into the Champions League qualification spots ahead of fifth-placed Lazio.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
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Juve boss Thiago Motta has at times come under pressure this campaign - it looks like the Old Lady will miss out on the Serie A title for a sixth consecutive season - but he has eased the pressure on his job considering his team have now won four games in a row.
As for Inter, they are only two points behind Napoli having played the same number of games, but that gap could easily grow to five points should Napoli beat them on March 2.
Simone Inzaghi has so far performed remarkably well as manager, but his side have now lost two and drawn one of their last four games, and he will know his players will have to quickly correct their form if they are to win the title.
JUVENTUS VS. INTER MILAN HIGHLIGHTS
43rd min: Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) hits post
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Mehdi Taremi wins a header after goalkeeper Yann Sommer kicks long, and his flick on is met by Dumfries near the halfway line before the wing-back drives relentlessly forward and strikes the right post with a ferocious effort from a tight angle.
A brilliant run from Dumfries!
69th min: Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) hits post
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Hakan Calhanoglu plays a simple pass down the right flank to Marcus Thuram, who looks second favourite for the ball but he knocks Renato Veiga over and drives into the box before cutting back to Dumfries and the defender's sweeping shot is saved onto the left post by Michele Di Gregorio.
VAR might have had a look at that!
Francisco Conceicao goal vs. Inter Milan (74th min, Juventus 1-0 Inter Milan)
Juve take the lead, and what a goal it is! 🔥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) February 16, 2025
Incredible feet from Kolo Muani, and the ball is worked to Conceição who finishes brilliantly ⚽️
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/yxMXZ4gKaG
Andrea Cambiaso whips a cross in from the left flank to the back post and though Inter clear the ball, Kolo Muani wrestles control of possession on the edge of the box before spinning away from his markers and feeding the ball to Conceicao, who takes a touch and places his shot into the bottom-left corner.
Brilliant work by Muani!
MAN OF THE MATCH - RANDAL KOLO MUANI
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Juventus had few moments of real quality in the final third, but Kolo Muani's genius dribbling provided Conceicao the room he needed to score.
The Frenchman also completed his fair share of defensive work, winning seven duels while also winning four fouls, helping to relieve the pressure his team faced.
JUVENTUS VS. INTER MILAN MATCH STATS
Possession: Juventus 42%-58% Inter Milan
Shots: Juventus 16-17 Inter Milan
Shots on target: Juventus 8-2 Inter Milan
Corners: Juventus 7-5 Inter Milan
Fouls: Juventus 17-10 Inter Milan
BEST STATS
H2H - Inter will field their oldest starting 11 on average v Juventus in Serie A in the three points for a win era (30 years and 306 days).
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 16, 2025
Juventus will field their youngest starting 11 on average v Inter in Serie A since 1994/95 (25 yy, 8 dd). Duel.#JuveInter #JuventusInter
3 - Francisco Conceição is only the third Portuguese player to score for Juventus against Inter in #SerieA, after Cristiano Ronaldo (two goals between 2019 and 2021) and Rui Gil Barros (one goal in 1989). Fellowship.#JuventusInter
— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) February 16, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Juventus will contest the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 playoff against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday before playing Cagliari in the league on February 23.
Meanwhile, Inter are set to take on Genoa in Serie A on February 22 but then participate in the Coppa Italia against Lazio on February 25.
Lewis Nolan
