Nerazzurri and Old Lady Share the Spoils in Milan

A goalless draw was the outcome in the Giuseppe Meazza in an enthralling encounter that contained some high octane footballing action.

Juventus were the side trailing Internazionale by 9 points and it was the visitors that started with the more possession. The prize in this game was massive so there was no surprise to see the referee dishing out bookings inside the first ten minutes. Claudio Marchisio, Felipe Melo and Sami Khedira getting jotted down by the ref.

The chances were thin to report on in the first 20 minutes. Juan Cuadrado did have a shot from the right that disturbed the side netting while Stefan Jovetic's free kick didn’t have Gianluigi Buffon worried. Nevertheless it was a pulsating opening quarter with plenty of passion being displayed by both sides.

Internazionale had a hand ball appeal turned down after 25 minutes after excellent work from Marcelo Brozovic down the left but replays showed that the ref made the correct decision. Jovetic had an excellent chance to break the deadlock shortly after when Jeison Murillo slid the Montenegrin through but he was foiled by an excellent save from the 159 times capped Italian stopper.

Inter were most definitely on top as the half hour mark approached. Buffon once again saved Juve's blushes when he tipped a curling shot from Brozovic onto the bar after a short corner. Juventus were struggling and having to commit cynical fouls to slow the game down and to try and get a foothold in it.

Inter seemed to have surrendered their momentum when Felipe Melo looked to have brought Khedira down with a challenge from behind but the referee deemed the challenge to be fair and waved play on. Replays lead me to believe that the Brazilian was lucky not to pick up a second yellow.

Both defences were on form. Andrea Barzagli was on fire and frequently thwarted Inter in their steps. Likewise an excellent challenge from Murillo prevented Simone Zaza from getting a shot on target. The referee blew an electric first half to a close.

Right from the off, Juve pressurised Inter and Cuadrado nearly squeezed a shot through Samir Handanovic's legs. The Old Lady dominated the midfield in the first 10 minutes of the second half, much to the contrary at the tail end of the first half. A snap shot from Stefan Jovetic was sweetly struck from about 10 yards outside the area, but Buffon was equal to the shot despite the vigorous dip just in front of him.

With an hour gone, it was Roberto Mancini who decided to try and force things with the introduction of Fredy Guarin. The pace of the game was frantic from the off of the game, with both sides causing each other problems and neither looking as if they would succumb to tiredness. It looked as if it was going to take a mistake or a piece of magic to separate the sides.

Undoubtedly the chance of the game was squandered by Sami Khedira just before the 70th minute mark. Excellent control, composure and awareness from Alvaro Morata inside the box allowed the Spanish international time to find the former Madrid man. Unchallenged a goal looked inevitable but his shot hit the post and bounced clear of danger.

As the final 5 minutes approached, it looked as if both sides were going away with a point each. Ivan Perisic did have a late free kick that sailed over the bar, not troubling Buffon, while a late surge by Cuadrado to the by-line looked promising, until he failed to find Paulo Dybala or Paul Pogba free on the edge of the 6 yard box. It was excellent play by Cuadrado to beat his opponent on the right flank.

Neither side could be separated and a point each was definitely the correct result. Juventus needed the victory more than the Nerazzurri as they continue to falter in attempt to get their Serie A campaign up and running.