Massimiliano Allegri hailed Mario Mandzukic after the Croatian’s goal was enough to send Juventus 11 points clear in Serie A with a 1-0 Derby d’Italia victory over Inter Milan.

Mandzukic was once again the man for the big occasion as he headed home the only goal in the 66th minute.

“Mario is a great striker,” Allegri said on Sky Sports Italia. “It is not an accident he won the treble with Bayern Munich. He is a player who always makes his mark, even on bad days.”

With only two points dropped all season, Juventus are once again threatening to run away with the league, but Allegri sought to shut down such talk.

“We knew the championship wouldn’t end today,” he said. “But we still absolutely had to avoid defeat.”

The match proved a close battle, with Inter left to rue a Roberto Gagliardini shot which came back off the post in the first half.

“Inter caused us problems in the first half, opening up with Joao Mario and Gagliardini, so we struggled to close them down,” Allegri said.

“The biggest chances in the first half came from us giving the ball away.

“I moved Mandzukic to the left, Paulo Dybala played much better and we had a very different performance in terms of intensity and pressure.

“We allowed Inter practically nothing in the second half and we had several more chances.”