Inter Milan & Juventus – A Battle Of Nerves That Could Go To The Bitter End In Serie A

The title race between Inter Milan and Juventus in Serie A will be a battle of nerves, and it could go to the bitter end.

Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, via FCInterNews, highlight the tight margins and the prospects for things going down to the wire in May.

There was a certain sense of symmetry to the fixtures that Inter and Juventus navigated this weekend.

Both teams faced opposition who are firmly in the relegation battle. The Nerazzurri hosted Hellas Verona, whilst the Bianconeri travelled to face bottom-of-the-table Salernitana.

And neither made easy work of their respective matches.

Inter went ahead early against the Gialloblu, but then their performance began to sag.

Failure to put the game to bed with more goals left the Nerazzurri open to the gut-punch of a second half equalizer from Verona.

In the end it took a highly-controversial stoppage time equalizer for Inter to snatch the three points.

And even then, the late drama was not done. Verona also missed a penalty late in stoppage time.

Meanwhile, Juventus actually trailed at halftime during their match in Salerno.

It was the Granata going a man down that allowed the Bianconeri to gain a foothold in a match they’d not previously dominated.

And, like Inter, Juventus needed until stoppage time to finally seal a 2-1 victory.

Inter & Juventus – A Battle Of Nerves, To The Bitter End

Neither Inter nor Juventus were anywhere close to their best in their respective first matches of 2024.

But both showed a certain resilience. With just two points separating the pair, they will both know the importance of winning matches in which they do not play well.

The nerves and patience held out past the point where things became almost unbearable for both teams.

Naturally both Inter coach Simone Inzaghi and Juventus boss Max Allegri will focus on improving the performances.

But at the same time, both will know that matches like this weekend’s will happen.

And for both teams, the importance of keeping their nerve cannot be overstated.

The Nerazzurri and the Bianconeri are on a collision course at the beginning of February.

Moreover, that match will arrive after Inter have played one match fewer – due to their participation in the upcoming Supercoppa Italiana.

That means Juventus have the opportunity to go into that decisive Derby d’Italia ahead of their rivals on points.

But Inter could have the game in hand on the Bianconeri as an “asterisk.” However, they’ve been in that position before, blowing their on-paper advantage over AC Milan in an infamous loss away to Bologna in 2022.

One way or the other, it looks probable that this is not a title race that will be a formality in the early spring like last season’s.

It will be months of tension and uncertainty. And two teams who will have to keep their nerve through the adversity.