Juventus welcome Salernitana on Sunday to the Allianz Arena for Serie A Matchday 6. There is one encounter between the two sides that stands out more than any other in the Bianconeri annals, a game that dates back to 20 December 1998.
It was Matchday 14 of a season that kicked off in mid-September, and on that cold winter day at the Delle Alpi stadium one player emerged head and shoulders above the rest - that player was Filippo Inzaghi.
GRIT AND DETERMINATION
A coincidence worthy of note is that Juventus-Salernitana 34 years ago came directly after a trip to Florence. It was not an easy moment for the Bianconeri. Alex Del Piero had suffered an injury at Udinese in Matchday 8 and the Bianconeri had lost four of the subsequent five matches without a win and without a goal.
The negative spell had to be brought to a close and the statement of intent came against a Salernitana side already battling to beat the drop. There was a need for a gritty performance, and that is precisely what Juve produced as can be glimpsed in the duel between Nicola Amoruso and a young Gennaro Gattuso.
511 MINUTES LATER
Never before in club history had Juventus experienced such a barren spell. However, the goalless period was finally ended after 511 minutes. Filippo Inzaghi took the situation in hand and once the deadlock was broken, all the pieces fell into place.
The number nine bagged a hat-trick with goals in 20', 29' and 87'. It was the third time with Juventus that Super Pippo had lived up to his name and taken the ball home, the second in Serie A after his three goals at Bologna.
JUVE NEVER GIVE UP
At the end of the match Inzaghi faced the media and commented on his and the team's positive day. The striker said, "I am very happy with today's three goals. I thank my teammates who have given me a big hand. Today I had confirmation: Juventus never give up."
GOLDEN ZIZOU
Juventus-Salernitana was also important for Zinedine Zidane. The French midfielder received the news that he had been awarded the Balon d'Or in recognition of his year that had seen him become champion of Italy with Juventus and champion of the world with France. In the stands applauding him was Del Piero, back at the stadium for the first time since his injury. And Alessandro publicly complimented his teammate, also declaring himself satisfied, "I saw a great Juve."