Player Ratings: Juventus 2-1 Inter

JUVENTUS

Buffon: 6 - Made a splendid save on Samuel in the early going but did not have any difficult stops to make after that. No chance for the goal as he was beaten by a close range header.

Caceres: 7.5 - Made a vital intervention in the eighth minute and pushed forward enough to threaten Chivu on a couple of occasions. Showed tremendous fighting spirit this evening. Right-back has been a problem position for Juve for most of the season but not tonight.

Cannavaro: 6.5 - The old warhorse faced his old team and struggled with Eto’o and Milito’s off the ball movement in the first half but got the better of the two in the second period.

Chiellini: 8 - The hard-nosed defender always rises the occasion against Inter and tonight was no different. If someone from another planet asked me to show them a picture of what a true centre-back in football looks like, I would pull out a picture of Chiellini in a heartbeat.

Grosso: 6 - Did not push out far enough and kept Eto’o onside for Inter’s only goal of the game. Gallopped forward on enough occasions to keep Zanetti honest.

Sissoko 7 - It was his ambitious long distance shot that Julio Cesar spilled that set up the winner for Juve. Is outplaying his more illustrious defensive midfielder at the moment.

Felipe Melo: 6 - The struggling midfield hardman was in the right place at the right time as he gave Juve a dream start. Was given his marching orders for foolishly elbowing Balotelli and set up a nervy finish for his team-mates.

Marchisio: 8 - Juve really missed him during his injury lay-off and he showed why tonight as he scored the winning goal and cleared the ball off the line on Balotelli’s corner to preserve a huge victory.

Diego: 7 - Was dangerous with the ball at his feet and it was his pin-point delivery from a dead ball situation that set up Melo’s goal. He was a real live wire in the second half.

Del Piero: 6 - The timeless legend looked a bit rusty in his first Serie A start of the season although he drew the foul that led to the opening goal of the match. His set-pieces were poor tonight though

Amauri: 7 - Looked good in the early going and was a constant menace for the Inter back four. He played like a man possessed and work his socks off for the team.

SUBS

Camoranesi: 6 - The Juventus midfield didn’t miss a beat for the 20 minutes he was on the pitch.

Poulsen: NA - Did his job as Juve did not concede during his 10 minute appearance.

Grygera: NA

INTER

Julio Cesar: 5.5 - Brazil’s classy number one was caught going the other way for Melo’s goal and spilled Sissoko’s shot that Marchisio turned in. Not a vintage performance by any means.

Chivu: 6 - The experienced defender had a running battle with Caceres in the first half and was effective on the left-flank. Somehow stayed on the pitch after head-butting Sissoko in the late match scrum.

Samuel: 6 - The no-nonsense Argentine defender almost scored in the first half and was involved in a countless number of tug of wars with Chiellini on set pieces. Was very lucky not receive his marching orders in the 70th minute.

Lucio: 7 - The Brazil captain stood tall and proud in the centre of defence and marshalled the back line with the zeal of a four star general.

Zanetti: 6.5 - The captain slotted seamlessly into a right-back role and was cool, calm and collected under very difficult circumstances.

Muntari: 6 - The much-maligned midfielder was a little out of control this evening and was hooked in the second half.

Cambiasso: 7.5 - Protected the back four valiantly and pushed forward when needed. His quick free kick to Stankovic set up Eto’o’s goal. Missed a free header in the 69th minute though.

Thiago Motta: 7 - He was a Juve killer when he played for Genoa and although he did not score his excellent range of passing was on display tonight. He looked like a totally different player than the one who featured in the Barca clash.

Stankovic: 7 - He was supposed to provide the creative spark tonight and did not disappoint as it was his tantalising cross that set up Eto’o’s goal. Faded in the last twenty minutes of the match

Milito: 6.5 - ‘El Principe’ gave Cannavaro a hard time in the first half with his off the ball movement. Will feel aggrieved at not being awarded a penalty after Caceres’ clumsy tackle.

Eto’o: 7 - The Cameroon star did not look nervous in his first Derby d’Italia and did exactly what he is paid to do as his close range header beat Buffon. Could not pry his way through Juve’s backline in the second half though as his passing went awry.

SUBS

Balotelli: 5.5 – The teenager knew he was in for a difficult evening but could not hit back at his detractors with a goal.

Mancini: 5 – His control let him down a couple of times in his 12 minute cameo.

Materazzi NA: Came on in the last minute only to clash heads with Chiellini.