Champions League semi-final hero Alvaro Morata struck late as Juventus snatched a 2-1 'Derby d'Italia' win to compound Inter Milan's bid for a place in next season's Europa League.

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 firmly 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.

The only positive note for Inter came from Lazio's 1-0 win away at Samp, meaning the Nerazzurri still have a slim chance to sneak into the top six.

Inter are away to Genoa and then host Empoli in their final two games while Samp are away to Empoli then host already-relegated Parma.

Morata, who levelled for Juve in a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid last week to secure a Champions League final spot against Barcelona in Berlin, hit the winner seven minutes from time after teammate Claudio Marchisio had struck from the spot to level Mauro Icardi's early opener.

"I was a bit lucky, but that's football," said the Spaniard, who celebrated by donning a pair of dark sunglasses.

"The sunglasses were just there, I don't know where they came from. (Leonardo) Bonucci handed them to me and I put them on!"

Inter coach Mancini said their Europa dream was virtually over.

"In terms of the Europa League we couldn't afford to lose this game, but only results count in football and we didn't produce the right one," he said.

"You have to win by scoring goals and we just weren't clinical enough."

Inter started in positive fashion and took a ninth minute lead when Marcelo Brozovic's drive came off the chest of 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 Marchisio fired past Samir Handanovic in the 42nd minute.

With Wednesday's Italian Cup final on the horizon against Lazio, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri 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.

When the ball fell to the Spaniard 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 means they now lead Lazio, who had Santiago Gentiletti's 54th minute strike for their win in Genoa, by 17 points.

Roma and Lazio are fighting for the league's second automatic Champions League qualifying spot and the Giallorossi, who slipped to third two points behind their city rivals, will move back up to second place if they account for Udinese on Sunday.