Juventus have beaten arch-rivals Inter 2-1 at San Siro in the Derby d'Italia to stay top of the table.

This fixture is always tense, particularly after the Nerazzurri spent the week claiming "if in doubt, referees whistle against us." Next month Juve are also expecting a result from the tribunal after trying to have the 2004-05 and 2005-06 titles restored. Julio Cesar, Diego Forlan, Thiago Motta, Walter Samuel, Andrea Ranocchia, Philippe Coutinho, Andrea Poli and Emiliano Viviano were out of action. Juve missed Emanuele Giaccherini, but Gigi Buffon recovered from a bruised shoulder to start.

The Inter curva unveiled a huge banner before kick-off that read: 'I don't steal the League and I've never been in Serie B...'

The Nerazzurri had a great chance after four minutes, as a free kick was knocked down for Esteban Cambiasso's volley that flashed across the face of goal.

However, it was Juventus who took the lead. Stephan Lichtsteiner got down the right and rolled across for Alessandro Matri, as Luca Castellazzi performed a save from point-blank range, but only into the path of Mirko Vucinic.

It was almost 2-0 moments later, as Matri sprung the offside trap and flashed his angled drive across the face of goal to skim the back post.

The Bianconeri went on another splendid counter-attack after Wesley Sneijder gave the ball away and Castellazzi had to smother at Matri's feet.

Maicon burst past Giorgio Chiellini, but Buffon did just enough to block him at the by-line. Javier Zanetti's effort was also charged down after Andrea Pirlo gave the ball away on the edge of his own box.

Mauro Zarate fought his way past Andrea Barzagli to fire wide of the near post.

The pressure paid off when Maicon scored a spectacular goal. He gathered from Sneijder's reverse pass on the right side of the box and went to cross, but instead smashed it under the bar from a tight angle to surprise Buffon, aided by a deflection.

It was nearly 2-1 to Inter, as Pazzini's bullet header beat Buffon to crack against the middle of the crossbar from Maicon's cross.

Instead Juventus restored their advantage moments later! Claudio Marchisio went through the middle and exchanged passes with Matri to pass it into the near bottom corner past Castellazzi's outstretched hand.

Marchisio went clear on goal and flicked the ball over the on-rushing Castellazzi, but the referee waved play on as the two collided.

Matri and Vucinic couldn't get their shots away, so it fell to Lichtsteiner to blast wide of the near post.

Luc Castaignos replaced Zarate for the second half. Giorgio Chiellini was booked for holding out an arm to block Pazzini and accidentally hitting him on the side of the head.

Bonucci charged down a Pazzini effort from a free kick, then Lichtsteiner did the same on a Sneijder snapshot, as Inter poured forward.

However, the Nerazzurri struggled with a Pirlo free kick and Vucinic prodded it straight at the goalkeeper from close range.

The tension escalated with Sneijder booked for dissent, then Dejan Stankovic played on with Vidal down injured so Pirlo took down Sneijder and was carded for that.

Sneijder drilled straight at Buffon and was then replaced by Ricky Alvarez so he could have an ice pack applied to his calf.

Marcelo Estigarribia caught Inter on the counter down the left flank and his angled drive was deflected just past the far post by Castellazzi's foot, although the referee only awarded a goal kick.

Pazzini volleyed well wide from an Alvarez assist, but Alessandro Del Piero scuffed off target when a header back sent him clear on goal.

Another Pazzini attempt was charged down in the box, but Inter could not find a way through.

Inter: Castellazzi; Maicon, Lucio, Chivu, Nagatomo; Zanetti, Cambiasso, Obi (Stankovic 64); Sneijder (Alvarez 78); Zarate (Castaignos 46), Pazzini

Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Barzagli, Chiellini; Pirlo; Pepe, Vidal (Pazienza 88), Marchisio, Vucinic (Del Piero 84); Matri (Estigarribia 70)

Ref: Rizzoli