05 November 2022
Among the 178 previous meetings in Serie A between Juventus and Inter, that of 5 December 2009 springs to mind from the most recent from the clashes since the year 2000.
Making it so special was the fact that is was decided by a Turin native that had come through the Juventus academy.
That player was Claudio Marchisio.
THE PREAMBLE
Juve's home match with Inter in 2009 was played at the Olimpico. The Bianconeri were coming off a defeat at Cagliari and the desire to set things straight was strong.
Against José Mourinho's Nerazzurri, a team built to dominate at home and abroad, Ciro Ferrara proposed a starting XI that read: Buffon; Caceres, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Sissoko, Felipe Melo, Marchisio; Diego; Amauri, Del Piero.
ALL SQUARE AT THE BREAK
The first 45 minutes ended all square at 1-1. Juve took the lead on 20 minutes after a goalmouth scramble.
The goal was awarded to the masked Giorgio Chiellini. But the Juventus joy was short-lived - after just six minutes Samuel Eto'o brought Inter level.
A WORK OF ART
It took a goal from the very top drawer to separate the teams again. It was Marchisio who provided the sublime moment almost on the hour.
The Principino pounced on a Momo Sissoko shot that had been spilled by Julio Cesar. With lightning quick footwork he passed the ball between the left and right foot, leaving Lucio in his trail, and with a left foot shot fired the ball into the net.
MOMO THE MOVER
Momo Sissoko could not have been happier if he had scored the goal himself.
The midfielder covered every blade of grass that evening out but what really set him apart was the precision of his passing game.
THE FINAL WHISTLE
The hug between Gigi Buffon and Chiellini at the final whistle summed up the sense of satisfaction at the final whistle. It was not the first Juventus-Inter to be play by the pair and it would not be the last.
There were others, more important ones, to be experienced in Turin but at another stadium. But the joy for that evening's efforts was nevertheless enormous.
