Serie A: Inter beat Juve 3-2, but refereeing controversy erupts.

Milan, February 14 (LaPresse) – Inter defeated Juve 3-2 in the Derby d’Italia, the early match of Serie A’s 25th matchday, and extended their lead over AC Milan in the standings. The Nerazzurri are back to an eight-point lead as they await the rescheduled match between the Rossoneri and Como. The match was decided by a late Zielinski goal in a game heavily influenced by referee La Penna, who sent off Kalulu for a nonexistent contact with Bastoni at the end of a first half dominated by Juve. The Bianconeri remain on 46 points, level with Roma, who play tomorrow in Naples. Returning to the Scala of football after their Olympic interlude, the Meazza offered a strong first half from Inter and Juve. The Bianconeri were more maneuverable and proactive, while the Nerazzurri, as ever, were more clinical and decisive. It’s no coincidence that Inter took the lead in the 17th minute with an unfortunate deflection into their own net by Cambiaso, following a Lautaro cross. Di Gregorio’s indecision was also a serious factor in the match, as he attempted a clumsy save with his feet. Shortly before the half-hour mark, Cambiaso redeemed himself by tapping in McKennie’s cross from the edge of the box to equalize. A landslide followed as the half drew to a close, with Inter threatening again, first through Zielinski (a clearance by Bremer on the line) and then through Thuram and Bastoni. The former tested Di Gregorio with a header, while the latter hit the post twice on the rebound. Just before halftime, the episode that truly determined the match came with Kalulu’s highly questionable red card for a foul on Bastoni that the TV cameras showed was non-existent. However, VAR was unable to intervene because the French full-back was sent off for a second yellow card. As expected, Inter continued to lay siege to Di Gregorio’s goal in the second half, although Juve had the first clear chances through McKennie and Miretti. The Nerazzurri then came close to scoring with substitute Calhanoglu, who tested Di Gregorio from outside the box. Inter’s siege finally came to fruition in the 75th minute when another substitute, Pio Esposito, headed past Di Gregorio from a typically perfect Dimarco cross. However, Juve’s spirit was strong, and—after a couple of counterattacks failed by Inter—in the 82nd minute, captain Locatelli found an unexpected equalizer with a first-time diagonal right-footed shot from inside the penalty area. Inter poured back into the Juventus box late on, and only a great save from Di Gregorio denied Bisseck with a header. The Juventus goalkeeper made the save shortly after, blocking Calhanoglu’s shot from the edge of the area. It was the prelude to Zielinski’s goal to make it 3-2, with a low right-footed shot from outside the box that this time left Di Gregorio with no chance. In injury time, the Nerazzurri were just one step away from a fourth goal through Bonny, but Koopmeiners cleared the ball off the line and avoided a defeat that would have been too heavy for a match clearly affected by La Penna’s serious error.