TURIN: Juventus sit level on points with Napoli at the top of Serie A on Saturday after a thrilling 4-3 win with Inter Milan, with Vasilije Adzic netting a stunning added time winner, as both teams continued their perfect starts to the new season with the Champions League set to begin.

Juve twice took the lead but Hakan Calhanoglu pulled Inter level on both occasions. The Thuram brothers looked to have decided the game with Marcus putting Inter ahead and Khephren equalising before teenage substitute Adzic struck in stoppage time of the ‘Derby of Italy’.

Juve are on nine points from their first three matches, behind on goal difference from Napoli who cruised to a 3-1 win at Fiorentina with new boy Rasmus Hojlund on the scoresheet.

“It was a crazy match, loads of goals and end-to-end, and we’re really happy to get a win against such a good team that has really great players,” said Juve coach Igor Tudor. “The victory arrived, I don’t know if you could say it was deserved. The way I see it, a draw would have been fairer, but that’s football.”

Inter were looking to bounce back from a 2-1 home loss to Udinese last time out but fell behind in the 14th minute. Manuel Locatelli floated a cross towards the back post where Gleison Bremer volleyed it back across the box and Lloyd Kelly steered his shot into the bottom corner.

Calhanoglu equalized in the 30th with a trademark long-range shot but Kenan Y05?ld05?z restored Juve’s lead just eight minutes later, controlling a pass from Bremer with his back to goal and then turning to lash in a magnificent strike from 30 yards.

Inter upped the pressure after the break, however, and got a deserved equaliser in the 65th minute. Marcus Thuram did well to keep a cross from going out and the ball came out to Calhanoglu, who controlled it on his chest before smashing it into the far bottom corner.

Inter continued to press, and 11 minutes later, Marcus rose unchallenged to power a header from a corner beyond the keeper to put the visitors ahead for the first time, but with their father, ex-Juventus player Lilian Thuram, watching on, Khephren nodded Juve level.

There was still time for another screamer from distance as Adzic, who made his debut for Montenegro in June, unleashed a fierce shot from 35 yards out that squirmed through the hands of Yann Sommer, which have the Turin giants a huge boost ahead of Tuesday’s visit of Borussia Dortmund.

Inter are stuck on three points after a second straight defeat under novice coach Cristian Chivu, who replaced Simone Inzaghi in the summer even though his only previous elite coaching experience was a handful of matches in charge of Parma last season.

“You have to look at the performance and the fact that we came here and played with personality, try to win the match and not settle for any other result,” said Chivu, whose team next travel to Ajax.

HOJLUND STRIKES

Napoli warmed up for their clash at Manchester City on Thursday with a powerful display in Florence which strengthened their status as the team to beat in Italy.

The champions were two goals ahead within 14 minutes in Florence, with Kevin De Bruyne smashing home a penalty and Hojlund — who joined from Manchester United on transfer deadline day — expertly guiding home from Leonardo Spinazzola’s pass on his debut.

Sam Beukema also grabbed a debut goal in the 51st before Luca Ranieri salvaged some pride for Fiorentina in the 79th minute, too late for the hosts to mount a comeback.

“It’s a very important win today, we won the first three now and want to continue like this,” said Hojlund to Sky. “We have a very important game in the Champions League coming up, I am very happy to be with this incredible team.”

Elsewhere, Cagliari beat Parma 2-0 for their first victory of the season.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2025