Inter Milan denied Serie A top spot by rivals Juventus

TURIN: Juventus stopped Inter Milan from replacing Napoli at the top of Serie A on Sunday by beating their fierce rivals 1-0 and moving into Italy´s Champions League positions.

Francisco Conceicao made sure that Napoli would stay two points ahead of reigning champions Inter by classily tucking home the winning goal 16 minutes before the end of an entertaining contest in Turin.

Portugal attacker Conceicao netted his fourth goal of the season in all competitions after brilliant work from Randal Kolo Muani to give Juve a third straight league win. Juve are in fourth place on 46 points, ahead on goal difference from Lazio who had done wasteful Inter a favour by holding Napoli to a 2-2 draw on Saturday.

But Napoli stay at the summit with Antonio Conte´s team and Inter facing off in Naples in a fortnight, a match which could well be key to the destination of the Scudetto. “The win tonight gives us confidence and an awareness of what we´re capable of,” said Thiago Motta, whose first season in charge of Juve has been difficult.

“They deserve it for the effort they put in during training and the fact that they give everything in every match.” Juve now turn their attentions to Wednesday´s return leg of a Champions League play-off with PSV Eindhoven, with Motta´s side leading 2-1 following the first leg in Turin. Sunday´s match wasn´t quite as exciting as the 4-4 draw at the San Siro in October but the scoreline didn´t reflect the number of chances created by both teams, and in particular Inter.

Simone Inzaghi´s side were left to rue a clutch of missed opportunities in the first half, with Lautaro Martinez wasting the clearest opening. Argentina striker Martinez smashed over the bar from point-blank range 10 minutes before half-time after being perfectly set up by Denzel Dumfries.

Wing-back Dumfries was also at fault for Inter not leading at the break as he headed over Martinez´s cross when completely unmarked in the 19th minute and just before the break smashed an effort off the post with Martinez waiting for a tap-in in the middle of the penalty box.

Neither side created another decent chance before Conceicao, who also forced an excellent save from Yann Sommer in the first half, sent the home fans and Motta wild in celebration. And Inter knew the game was up when substitute Marcus Thuram, who was playing against his brother Khephren while his father Lilian watched in stands, lashed over in the final moments.