An Alessandro Del Piero-inspired Juventus ended Internazionale’s unbeaten home record on Saturday with a 2-1 win and threw the Serie A title race wide open.

After a goalless first half, Mauro Camoranesi put the visitors ahead in the 49th minute before a fine assist from Del Piero set up David Trezeguet to volley in Juve’s second in the 63rd minute.

Del Piero, who was left out of Roberto Donadoni’s Italy squad which was announced on Saturday, had chances to add a third, and it was a nervous end for the Bianconeri when Maniche grabbed a consolation six minutes from time before hitting the post in stoppage time.

But Inter could not find an equaliser, leaving the Scudetto up for grabs after Roma beat Empoli to move within four points of the leaders with eight games to go. Juventus cement their position in third but remain 10 points off the summit.

It took Inter only 18 seconds to threaten with Cristian Chivu reaching Maicon’s cross at the far post, but he was unable to direct the ball goalwards.

Juve had their first chance in the eighth minute when Del Piero reached Pavel Nedved’s deep cross at the far post to head towards goal. The close attention of Javier Zanetti put the Italian striker off balance and goalkeeper Julio Cesar was able to tip the ball over.

Dejan Stankovic headed on to the crossbar in the 19th minute after Nicolas Burdisso had flicked on Luis Jiminez’s free-kick and at the other end Gianluigi Buffon made a diving save from Chivu’s low free-kick, which was heading for the bottom corner. His opposite number, julio Cesar, thwarted Del Piero twice and denied Nicolas Legrottaglie and Mohamed Sissoko shortly before the break as Juve finished the half in the ascendency.

Julio Cesar was called into action just 30 seconds into the second period when Nedved met Zdenek Grygera’s cross on the volley from 10 yards out, but he was finally beaten five minutes after of the restart. Cristian Molinaro’s long, sweeping ball from the left found Camoranesi free as the Inter defence appealed for offside and the Juve winger beat Julio Cesar at his near post to put the visitors ahead and silence the San Siro.

There was nothing the Inter goalkeeper could do about Juve’s second either as he was again beaten at his near post by a rasping volley from Trezeguet after Del Piero sent the Frenchman through with an exquisite touch. Del Piero was running the show for the rampant visitors and he almost grabbed a third when he cut in from the right, leaving Maxwell standing before taking aim for the far post and forcing another excellent save from Julio Cesar.

He and Trezeguet surged forward with the Inter defence stretched, but again Julio Cesar blocked Del Piero’s shot and Sissoko drove the rebound wide. There was late drama when Inter pulled a goal back in the 84th minute as Maniche blasted Maicon’s low cross into the roof of the net from point-blank range.

He then hit the post in the second minute of stoppage time but Juve held on for a superb victory.