Juventus beat Inter to go nine points clear

Juventus put three goals past a poor Inter Milan to win the Derby D'Italia and tighten their grip on another Scudetto.

Right-back Stephan Lichsteiner opened the scoring with a diving header from Andrea Pirlo's inch-perfect pass.

Giorgio Chiellini made Inter pay for a big miss from Rodriguez Palacio with Juve's second goal two minutes into the second half before Arturo Vidal wrapped up the points with the third.

Juve took their foot off the pedal after the third and Rolando grabbed a consolation for Inter, but it was too little, too late for Walter Mazzarri's side.

Juventus, who were without the suspended Gianluigi Buffon, had new loan signing Dani Osvaldo from Southampton looking on from the stands as the Old Lady bid to move even further away from second-placed Roma at the top of Serie A.

Although the Inter Milan team bus survived being pelted with rocks and eggs as it arrived at Juventus Stadium, the Nerazzurri were without the injured Esteban Cambiasso and were unable to field new €20million signing Hernanes, whose signing is awaiting clearance.

Juve started the contest well, with Carlos Tevez unlucky not to be celebrating the opener inside five minutes, when his two shots were saved by an alert Samir Handanovic.

Inter failed to heed the warning though, and Juve took a deserved lead through an unlikely source. Pirlo's perfectly-weighted ball over the Inter defence was met by Lichsteiner, who stooped to head Juve ahead.

Inter were second best for the entire contest, but should have levelled just before half time when Juventus found themselves outnumbered on the counter-attack, but Palacio couldn't finish the move, instead blazing over their best chance of the match.

Inter were made to rue that miss two minutes after the break when Juventus doubled their lead courtesy of another unlikely scorer. Pirlo's corner was not cleared by Inter, Paul Pogba helped it on and Chiellini popped up to stroke the ball in at the far post.

Inter, who lacked a recognised striker, brought on veteran Diego Milito in the hope to give themselves a lifeline, but almost immediately after the change was made Juventus were celebrating a third. A quick throw caught Inter napping as Fernando Llorente rolled it into the path of Pogba, whose shot was saved, but Vidal reacted quickest to slam in the rebound.

Juve's play became sloppy after the hour and Inter earned themselves some respectability when Rolando swung his leg at the ball in the box after Juventus failed to clear a corner, bringing up the consolation.

The goal may have restored some pride but it's a result that leaves them languishing in sixth, a whopping 26 points behind runaway leaders Juventus, who move nine points clear of Roma at the top.