Inter’s 3-2 Derby d’Italia defeat to Juventus yesterday was marred by the performance of referee Gianpaolo Calvarese but he was not supported by VAR, according to Italian journalist Andrea Di Caro.
Antonio Conte’s side saw their lengthy unbeaten run come to an end at the Allianz Stadium as a controversial late Juan Cuadrado penalty gave Juventus victory, whilst Calvarese came in for criticism for sending Bianconeri midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur off and disallowing a Lautaro Martinez goal.
Writing in today’s newspaper edition of La Gazzetta dello Sport, Di Caro argued that the referee had been disappointing but only one of his calls was corrected by VAR, after he initially ruled out a Giorgio Chiellini own goal for an alleged push.
“Yesterday, against an Inter team unbeaten in a lifetime, it was necessary for Juventus to win, and the goal that still keeps hope alive came in the 88th minute from a disputed penalty,” Di Caro claimed.
“As disputed was Bentancur’s dismissal in the 55th minute. Calvarese was definitely not on form, but the combination of all the assistants and the VAR managed to correct only one of his many mistakes.”
Despite succumbing to defeat, Di Caro felt that it meant little to an Inter side that had already wrapped up the Scudetto, whilst victory would not be enough to keep Bianconeri coach Andrea Pirlo in his job at the end of the season.
“Antonio Conte wanted another victory, but the defeat changes nothing for Inter. Pirlo at the end of the match was exhausted, more tired than his captain Chiellini who now looks like a kind of (Italian Olympian) Dorando Pietri.
“The thousand battles are being felt by the tired heroes of Juve. The fate of the coach appears sealed, not even a sensational recovery at the death seems enough to save him.”
Inter look to finish their successful season with victory when they welcome Udinese to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza next weekend, whilst Juventus face the prospect of missing out on Champions League qualification should they fail to beat Bologna.
