Controversy reigns as 10-man Juventus fall to Inter

MILAN – Derby d’Italia referee Federico La Penna stole the spotlight at San Siro, issuing two hotly disputed yellow cards to Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu inside ten first-half minutes and reducing the visitors to ten men in the 42nd minute of a pulsating contest they ultimately lost 3-2 to league leaders Inter.

Until Kalulu’s marching orders, Juventus had responded to Andrea Cambiaso’s 17th-minute own-goal by pressing higher, equalising through Cambiaso’s close-range stab and looking the likelier side. The pivotal moment arrived when Alessandro Bastoni, already booked, tumbled under minimal contact; La Penna produced a second yellow to Kalulu rather than sanctioning the Inter man for simulation.

Down a man, Juve held firm until the 76th minute when Federico Dimarco’s sumptuous cross allowed substitute Francesco Pio Esposito to head Inter in front. Manuel Locatelli’s rasping 83rd-minute drive restored parity, but Piotr Zielinski’s low strike through a crowded box seven seconds from the end of regulation settled matters.

Juventus, lining up in a rare 4-3-3 shaped by Luciano Spalletti after Khéphren Thuram joined Dusan Vlahovic on the injury list, saw Michele Di Gregorio produce a string of saves to keep the depleted Bianconeri in contention. Inter manager Christian Chivu, boosted by returns for Nicolò Barella and Hakan Çalhanoglu, stuck with his familiar 3-5-2 and watched his side claim a victory that keeps them atop the table while leaving Juve directors Damien Comolli and Giorgio Chiellini remonstrating with officials at the interval and beyond.

The result hinged not on tactics or finishing, but on a moment of officiating that fuelled post-match fury and endless what-ifs.