Inter’s Scudetto hopes were hit hard last night as Milan claimed only their second derby win in a decade with a resounding 3-0 victory at San Siro.

Alex opened the scoring with a powerful header on 35 minutes from Keisuke Honda’s cross to give Milan 1-0 half-time lead.

Inter were handed a lifeline as Mauro Icardi won a dubious-looking penalty within seven minutes after emerging as a second-half substitute. However the Argentine hit his spot-kick against the post.

Milan then made the Nerazzurri pay with Mbaye Niang’s cross finding Carlos Bacca for the Colombian to score. Niang then added a third when he scored at the second attempt after Samir Handanovic had saved his initial effort.

Inter have now won just one of their last six and Roberto Mancini’s side are nine points off leaders Napoli who beat Empoli 5-1.

Juventus had temporarily dislodged Maurizio Sarri’s side with a 4-0 win at Chievo but, despite falling behind to Leandro Paredes’ opener, the southerners responded confidently. Gonzalo Higuain grabbed his 22nd goal of the season as he burst into the box to meet Lorenzo Insigne’s cross from the left and, in the 37th minute, provider turned goalscorer thanks to his free-kick.

The Azzurri managed to extend their advantage when Michele Camporese put the ball into his own goal when trying to anticipate Higuain’s run. There was no way back for Sarri’s former club and Jose Callejon confirmed the outcome with quicklytaken brace in the dying moments.

At the Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi, Alvaro Morata’s first-half double put Juventus in control against Chievo and Alex Sandro and Paul Pogba added to the lead after the break.