ROME - Champions League semi-final hero Alvaro Morata struck late as Juventus snatched a 2-1 'Derby d'Italia' win to virtually end Inter Milan's bid for a place in next season's Europa League.
Juventus' forward from Spain Alvaro Morata celebrates after scoring during the Italian Serie A football match Inter Milan vs Juventus on May 16, 2015 at the San Siro Stadium stadium in Milan
Roberto Mancini's under achievers welcomed the Turin giants to the San Siro looking for the three points that would have kept their European bid on track.
But the Nerazzurri's failure to overhaul what was a second-string Bianconeri side has left them in eighth position, two points behind Sampdoria in the last Europa League spot ahead of the other weekend fixtures with two games in the season remaining.
Inter started in positive fashion and took a ninth minute lead when Marcelo Brozovic's drive came off the chest of striker Mauro Icardi to send second choice goalkeeper Marco Storari the wrong way.
It meant the Argentinian striker maintained his impressive record of scoring against Juventus in every game he has played against the Italian champions.
The hosts went on to create a number of chances in an entertaining first half but paid the price for a wayward Mateo Kovacic back pass which fell into the path of Juve striker Alessandro Matri.
Matri raced towards goal but was brought tumbling to the ground by Serbian defender Nemanja Vidic as he teed up to shoot, earning a penalty which Claudio Marchisio fired past Samir Handanovic in the 42nd minute.
With Wednesday's Italian Cup final on the horizon against Lazio, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri had rested a number of regulars including 'keeper Gianluigi Buffon, Patrice Evra, Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez.
But Inter failed to capitalise in a second half that saw four yellow cards from the seven that were issued throughout the game, five of which for Inter.
Allegri replaced attacking midfielder Roberto Pereyra with French star Paul Pogba for the final 12 minutes and five minutes later the visitors moved in front thanks to Morata, although Handanovic should have done better.
The Spaniard was the hero for Juve last week, scoring a late leveller against Real Madrid to secure the Italians' passage to the Champions League final against Barcelona in Berlin after an aggregate score of 3-2.
When the ball fell to Morata on the edge of the area he hit a toe poke which bobbled on its way to eluding a prostrate Handanovic at his right-hand post.
Inter immediately spurned two chances to grab a share of the points, Storari performing heroics to deny Rodrigo Palacio and then Icardi with the follow-up, prompting the entire Juve team to smother him in plaudits.
The champions held on for a 25th win of the season which took them 19 points ahead of Roma, who host Udinese on Sunday looking for the win that would allow them to keep Lazio -- their rivals for the second automatic Champions League spot -- at bay.
Lazio, in third, sit a point adrift of Rome ahead of their visit to Sampdoria later Saturday.