Inter hunt a 13th game unbeaten as Juventus look to repeat their Turin chaos at San Siro

Inter Milan return to San Siro on Saturday night knowing another Derby d’Italia victory would strengthen their grip on the Serie A title race.

Cristian Chivu’s side start the weekend clear at the top and this fixture offers another chance to keep the chasing pack at arm’s length.

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Inter’s form suggests they will take some stopping, having gone 12 league matches unbeaten and coming into this clash fresh from dismantling Sassuolo 5-0.

That result was the latest reminder of their depth and their rhythm, with Federico Dimarco again at the centre of everything as Inter tore through opponents who could not live with their intensity.

It also extended a run of five consecutive wins across all competitions, keeping Inter in the hunt on multiple fronts as their season builds towards its defining months.

However, Juventus remain the opponent that continues to make Inter’s life uncomfortable, regardless of what the league table says.

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The reverse fixture in September was a chaotic seven-goal thriller which Juventus won 4-3, and it remains one of the clearest examples of how quickly Inter can lose control in the biggest moments.

Inter have also dropped points in direct matches against the other leading sides this season, a trend they will be desperate to end in front of their own supporters.

Juventus arrive in Milan without the same sense of momentum, and their recent performances have lacked authority.

Luciano Spalletti’s side needed a 96th-minute equaliser from Pierre Kalulu to salvage a 2-2 draw against Lazio last weekend, and that result captured the uneven feel of their current run.

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Juventus have won only one of their last four matches in all competitions, and their away form has been particularly worrying, with goals proving hard to come by.

Even so, fixtures like this have never followed a script, and Juventus have enough attacking quality to punish any lapse.

Kenan Yildiz has already hurt Inter in recent meetings, and the visitors will believe they can make this another night of chaos.

For Inter, the task is to stay calm and stay clinical.

They have the league’s strongest structure, a deep squad and a lead worth protecting, but they will need to match Juventus’ edge and emotion.

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If they do, they will be well placed to grind out the type of win champions often require.

If Juventus produce something extraordinary, Inter will need to show they can survive the kind of test that has previously derailed them.