Three penalties, VAR, two red cards...and a Juve win

Three penalties, two red cards, five goals....what a derby. If Milan – Juventus game a week ago was a good one, this was even better. Andrea Pirlo’s men had an objective to win, just to be able to stay in the race for the Champions League spot, while Inter was just playing for honor and a possibility to hurt their heated rival with a win. In the end, Juve got two penalties, played almost 40 minutes with 10 men and still managed to defeat the new Italian champion.

Bianconeri were the better and more motivated opponent, and deserved their win. They had the better chances, they were more aggressive and they need the win, while Inter looked tired. Juve’s former coach Antonio Conte wanted the win over his former team more than anybody, but unfortunately for him, he just couldn’t put the boots and go out on the pitch himself.

Three goals were seen in the first half, two of which were from penalties. Darmian fouled Chiellini in the 24th minute and VAR confirmed it. Ronaldo took the penalty, but it was a bad one and Handanovic made the save, only for the ball to bounce back to the Portugese who was on target this time: 1-0.

Ten minutes later, the penalty was given on the other end, and again, it was a VAR decision. This time, De Ligt stepped on the back of Lautaro's foot and Lukaku was on spot for the equalizer. But, Juventus needed the win and the players kept pushing and pushing a rather unmotivated Inter side, and in the last minutes of the first half, Cuadrado scored a stunner for the lead.

Inter definitely started the second half much better, and they got a big push in the 54th minute, when Bentancur was shown a second yellow card, rather harsh. But, apart from a great Lautaro voley, which went just over the bar, nothing serious happened until the 83rd minute, when Lukaku scored a goal which was first ruled as an foul for Juventus, but after another VAR check it was overturned and Inter levelled. It lasted shortly, as another penalty was awarded for Juventus just five minutes later. Cuadrado scored (since Ronaldo was substituted) from the penalty spot for the victory and a hope for the Champions League in the last round.

SERIE A - Round 37

Saturday

Genoa – Atalanta 3-4 (0-3)

/Shomurodov 48, 84, Pandev 67 (p), - Zapata 9, Malinovskyi 26, Gosens 46, Pašalić 51/

Spezia – Torino 4-1 (2-0)

/Saponara 19, N’Zola 42, 74, Erlic 84 – Belotti 55(p)

Juventus – Inter 3-2 (1-1)

/Ronaldo 24, Cuadrado 45, 88 – Lukaku 35, 84/

21.45: Roma - Lazio

Sunday

13.30: Fiorentina - Napoli

16.00: Benevento - Crotone

16.00: Udinese - Sampdoria

19.00: Parma - Sassuolo

21.45: Milan - Cagliari

Monday

21.45: Hellas Verona – Bologna