Serie A, Inter 0-1 Juventus: Kostic strikes as Bianconeri close gap on Champions League spots

The Bianconeri started the game four places below their hosts, but Kostic struck in the first half to send them on their way to completing the league double over Inter for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign.

Simone Inzaghi’s side mustered just three shots on target as Juve’s backline saw out the win with relative ease.

Inter’s patchy form continues, with a third defeat in four Serie A games seeing their Champions League hopes suffer yet another blow as Massimiliano Allegri’s men move within nine points of the Nerazzurri.

After Wojciech Szczesny twice denied Nicolo Barella early on, Kostic brilliantly put Juve ahead with 23 minutes played.

100 – Filip Kostic has scored Juventus’ 100th Serie A away goal against Inter, the second side to reach this milestone in the competition after AC Milan (117). Habituè.#InterJuventus

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo) March 19, 2023

The Serbia international received the ball from Adrien Rabiot before rifling into the bottom right corner, with a lengthy VAR review for a suspected handball in the build-up eventually finding no wrongdoing.

Romelu Lukaku spurned a chance to equalise when he headed wide before the break, before Dusan Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli both tested Andre Onana early into the second half as Juve looked to build their advantage.

Allegri introduced Federico Chiesa off the bench, and the substitute nearly made it 2-0 when his powerful run ended with him curling just wide.

Inter pressed for a leveller late on, but Juve’s resilient defence stood firm to see out the remaining minutes for another clean sheet and make it eight wins from 12 in Serie A since the turn of the year.

What does it mean? Inter wobble continues as Juve march on

Juve’s 15-point deduction for alleged financial breaches looked to have put pay to their hopes of finishing in the Champions League places, but their red-hot form since means they are the team to watch with just seven points now separating them and the top four.

Their excellent performance as a defensive unit was the key to victory, restricting the league’s second-highest scorers to just three shots on target as Sczcesny enjoyed a relatively comfortable match between the sticks.

Rabiot runs the show

Rabiot’s superb outing in the middle of the park in both defence and attack helped Juve to another crucial victory.

His assist for Kostic’s goal capped a game in which he led his team in key passes (two) and passes in the final third (12), while no other Juve player registered more successful tackles (two) and duels won (eight).

Lukaku fails to fire

Inter’s blunt attacking display was not helped by the performance of their front two, with Lukaku in particular struggling to make an impact.

The Belgium international failed to hit the target with his only shot of the contest while winning just one of his five duels, as the Nerazzurri badly missed a focal point up top.

What’s next?

Both teams will return to Serie A action after the international break on April 1, when Inter will host Fiorentina, while Juventus welcome Hellas Verona.