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Saturday night in Serie A sees a mouth-watering ‘Derby D’Italia’ clash between Inter Milan and Juventus at the San Siro and In The Stands looks back at five classic encounters between Italy’s most fierce rivals.
Inter Milan vs Juventus was not nicknamed the ‘Derby D’Italia’ by the late Italian sports writer and novelist Gianni Brera without good cause. When these two behemoths collide the whole of Italy watches in rhapsody with matches usually delivering in terms of entertainment, controversy and yes…goals!
1: Juventus 1-0 Inter Milan, 1997/98
Never get an Inter Milan fan started on this match! With the two sides separated by a point with four games to play, the match at the Stade Delle Alpi was always going to be an explosive encounter.
And it didn’t disappoint as Juve went ahead with a Alessandro Del Piero penalty in the 21st minute, before referee Piero Ceccarini inexplicably denied Ronaldo a stone-wall spot-kick later on.
After Inter midfielder Ze Elias was ridiculously dismissed and coach Gigi Simoni sent to the stands, Inter president Massimo Moratti stormed out of the stadium.
So controversial was the match and subsequent result that even the Italian Parliament almost came to blows over the ordeal! Yes it was that crazy!
2: Juventus 1-3 Inter Milan, 2003/2004
A brace by Julio Cruz and a strike by Obafemi Martins sealed a terrific 3-1 win for the Nerazzurri at the Stade Delle Alpi (their first victory there since March, 1993) and spelled the beginning of the end for Marcello Lippi’s reign as Juve coach.
3: Inter Milan 2-2 Juventus, 2004/2005
A memorable clash between the pair culminated in a four goal thriller at the San Siro. More pertinently, Inter came back from 2-0 down with just over 10 minutes to play.
Catch Inter striker Adriano’s stupendous late volley (as well as Esteban Cambiasso’s mad celebrations) which rescued a totally unforeseeable point for the hosts.
4: Inter Milan 1-2 Juventus, 2005/2006
Both Juventus and Inter Milan were chasing the 2006 Scudetto before the match and having taken the lead through striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Juventus (led by Fabio Capello) were pegged back by Walter Samuel’s late header.
With the match seemingly heading for a 1-1 draw, Juve legend Alessandro Del Piero lined up a free-kick at the death…the rest was as they say history and all-but ended Inter Milan’s title hopes for yet another season (although Roberto Mancini’s men were later awarded the title thanks to the match-fixing scandal).
5: Inter Milan 1-2 Juventus, 2007/2008
Made all the more special because it was the Old Lady’s first season back in Serie A after being demoted as a result of the 2006 Calciopoli Scandal.
The match was thrilling, end-to-end and a joy to watch as goals by Mauro Camoranesi and David Trezeguet sealed a breathless 2-1 win for the visitors to blow the title race wide open (Inter would nevertheless, go on to claim their third straight Scudetto). Phew!
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