Inter Milan spurned the chance to take command of Italy's top flight after a pulsating scoreless draw with Juventus that set a new Serie A record gate receipt record at a sold out San Siro on Sunday.

The 'Derby d'Italia' is one of the most popular fixtures in Italy and a total of 79,154 spectators turned out to watch the 165th edition at Inter's shared ground, producing a new all-time gate receipt of 3,740,051 euros.

Roberto Mancini's highflyers hosted the four-time consecutive Serie A champions looking for their first home win in the derby since 2010, when Jose Mourinho led the Nerazzuri to an unprecedented treble of league, Cup and Champions League.

But in the end, the hosts were forced to settle for a share of the spoils, leaving Fiorentina, despite their 2-1 defeat to Napoli earlier Sunday, top of the pile with a one-point cushion on Roma.

Inter remain third, also on 17 points, with Napoli, Sassuolo and Lazio all two points adrift.

Juventus, eight points behind Inter overnight amid what has been a terrible start to the season, were quickly out the blocks and on-loan Chelsea forward Juan Cuadrado was denied by Samir Handanovic after just three minutes.

Stevan Jovetic returned to the fray for Mancini and the on-loan Manchester City forward was a real threat in the early stages.

With Mario Mandzukic starting on the bench following his recent injury recovery, Simone Zaza spearheaded Juve's attack in a rare 4-3-3 with Cuadrado on the right and Alvaro Morata out of position on the left.

Zaza was lively throughout and on seven minutes sneaked behind the Inter defence only to blast over from a tight angle.

Inter won another free kick when Sami Khedira was adjudged to have fouled Jovetic during a tussle, but the Montenegran's effort was a metre wide of Gianluigi Buffon's upright.

Inter had Juventus pinned back in their own half for most of the early stages and Buffon was forced out to block Jovetic on 26 minutes, the 'keeper suffering what appeared to be a knock to his calf in the process.

Juve looked shaken, but still Inter couldn't capitalise. When veteran defender Andrea Barzagli blocked Marcelo Brozovic on the byline, Inter earned a corner.

It was quickly taken and Jovetic delivered for Brozovic to fire a curling drive that Buffon tipped onto his bar and back out into play.

Juve were beginning to live dangerously but were given hope at the other end when Paul Pogba sent Patrice Evra through deep on the left, only for his cutback to be blocked by Miranda.

Juventus survived a first half onslaught to settle into their game in a far more open second half but it was Jovetic who first threatened, forcing Buffon into action 10 minutes after the restart.

Pogba had been conspicuously absent in the opening half but began showing glimpses of his silky skills, and dribbled around three players in midfield before offloading to Cuadrado on the right, although the chance came to nothing.

Moments later the Frenchman found space on the edge of the area to hit a curling drive that was easily collected by Handanovic, while Cuadrado set up Marchisio but his tame shot was well wide of the target.

Juventus were being allowed to set up around the Inter area and on 69 minutes Morata set up Sami Khedira only for the German's low angled effort to come off the far post.

It was Juve's best chance of the game and left them hoping to convert a dwindling number of half-chances in the closing minutes.

Mandzukic had replaced Morata on 71 minutes and he failed to connect cleanly with a cross from the right, and then Cuadrado's cut-back from the right byline found no takers.