Inter extended their unbeaten start to the season to 16 rounds after playing out a goalless draw with eternal rivals Juventus in Turin on Saturday night.
The visitors rarely threatened over the course of the match and it was the hosts who came closest to finding a goal hitting the woodwork through Mario Mandzukic in the first half.
Juventus enjoyed the bulk of the opportunities but Luciano Spalletti’s men managed to hold firm to end their three-match losing streak at the champions and open up a two point lead at the top of the Serie A table.
Napoli though can reclaim first place and leapfrog the Nerazzurri in the standings with victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio San Paolo on Sunday afternoon.
After sizing each other up, Juve enjoyed the first chance of the contest on nine minutes when Juan Cuadrado’s teasing ball made its way through to Mandzukic. The Croatian was denied by Handanovic but quick to pounce on the rebound only to see his header kept out by a spectacular acrobatic clearance from Miranda.
Inter survived the early scare and although they enjoyed prolonged spells of possession they never worked Szczesny. It might have been different though had Giorgio Chiellini not made two vital interceptions from Brozovic and then Candreva with Vecino waiting to pounce on both occasions.
Juve were happy to soak up the pressure and allow Inter the ball, but the Bianconeri hit back to close out the first half on the front foot – Khedira had a half-volley saved in two attempts by Handanovic and then a fierce effort deflected out for a corner.
On the cusp of half time Juventus went even closer as Mandzukic rattled the crossbar with a towering header on a pinpoint cross from Cuadrado.
The Bianconeri started the second half where they had left off with Cuadrado swinging in a couple of excellent deliveries for Mandzukic, while the latter then sent a rasping drive straight into the arms of Handanovic.
At the other end, Icardi worked his way into the Juve box and got a shot away but it was blocked by the home rearguard in what was one of the rare forays forward by the skipper and the Nerazzurri.
It was a brief reprieve for the Nerazzurri who were on the back foot as Perisic almost scored an own goal but Handanovic came to the rescue to tip it over the bar following a lovely dinked assist from Higuain aimed for Cuadrado.
Handanovic was less precise moments later punching a whipped cross from the left into the path of Khedira only for the midfielder to see his volley deflected out by Dalbert.
In a last roll of the dice, Juve turned to Paulo Dybala with 15 minutes with La Joya coming on for Khedira. But it did not have the desired effect, and whilst the Bianconeri continued to pepper the Inter goal with efforts, they did not find the breakthrough.
