Inter can continue to dream of Scudetto after proving mettle against Juventus

'Continue to dream' read the banner at the top of Curva Nord before the Derby d'Italia. It was meant as a jibe at Juventus, a reminder that Inter won the treble in 2010 - a feat the Old Lady has never managed in her long and proud history.

However, it seemed a more apt appraisal of Inter's Serie A title challenge. They went toe-to-toe with the reigning champions on Sunday evening and were still standing when the final whistle blew at the end of a bruising encounter featuring eight bookings.

Nerazzurri coach Roberto Mancini had spoken beforehand of how big a boost it would be for his side to defeat Juve. "A win would be great for morale," he confessed.

It was a frank admission that Inter's players were still reeling after losing their 100 per cent record in a 4-1 routing against Fiorentina on matchday six. Nicking a draw at Sampdoria last time out had been the first step on the road to recovery and Sunday's derby draw should completely restore that lost confidence.

True, all of the talk beforehand had been about Inter ending their five-year wait for a home league win over Juve. They failed in that regard but Inter proved their title credentials against the Bianconeri.

Led by tenacious duo Gary Medel and Felipe Melo, they hassled and harried excellently in midfield, while the movement and pace of Stevan Jovetic and Mauro Icardi up front caused Juve all sorts of problems. Indeed, the pair were responsible for three of the six yellows accrued by the Bianconeri.

Furthermore, Mancini's bold but arguably overdue decision to drop €35 million summer signing Geoffrey Kondogbia was fully vindicated by an energetic display from Marcelo Brozovic. The latter would have proven the match winner had it not been for a sublime, finger-tip save from Gianluigi Buffon, who pushed the Croat's curling effort from wide on the left-hand side of the box onto the crossbar.

All that Inter were missing was the goal - and that is, admittedly, a concern. They have managed just eight in eight games so far and that will have to change if they are to sustain their Scudetto challenge.

Another worry for the Nerazzurri is that Juventus are definitely moving in the right direction again after a shocking start to the season. At times, Claudio Marchisio struggled with the pace of the game, but that was hardly surprising given this was his first start of the season. Juve are improving and would have won the game had Sami Khedira not struck the base of the post after being picked out completely unmarked in the area by Alvaro Morata during the second half.

Andrea Barzagli was predictably brilliant at the back but Juan Cuadrado's dynamic display was a major plus point. The Colombian once again offered a constant attacking threat down the right-hand side and all he needs to start doing is producing an end product with greater regularity. On this evidence, though, the Chelsea flop will soon be on the same wavelength as his forwards and when that happens, he, like Juve, will be a formidable proposition once again. As Andrea Barzagli said beforehand, the main thing for Juve was not to lose this game. They achieved that goal, so will be satisfied with their evening's work.

However, it would be a surprise if Inter's players have not been lifted by their own performance. They withstood everything that Juve threw at them and came away with a draw that moves them to within a point of leaders Fiorentina. The Nerazzurri will now know that they are worthy Scudetto contenders. They no longer have anything to fear. They can 'continue to dream' of a first title since 2010.