08 April 2016
1) The background
Which encounter jumps off the page when the fixtures are announced in late July
Depending on your allegiances, you might say your own local derby whether it be Turin, Milan, Genoa or Rome.
Of course, fans of Serie A newcomers will always especially relish the opportunity of taking on Italy’s finest in front of their home supporters.
For historical importance, top of the table bragging rights and outright national supremacy, however, you might find one answer popping up rather a lot among the international fans of both teams: Milan vs. Juventus.
And so, just two days from the next installment of one of the country’s longest running dramas, Juventus.com picks out the ten key facts to know about the previous meetings between the Rossoneri and the Bianconeri.
From the first duel at Milan’s Campo dell’Acquabella in 1903 and the last at Turin’s Juventus Stadium in November 2015 to the 159 league tussles in the middle, there’s quite the tale to tell.
2) The first
Founded within two years of each other in 1897 (Juve) and 1899 (Milan), the respective future 33 and 18-time champions of Italy would not have to wait long for their first ever official encounter. Preceding the construction of the now iconic San Siro by 23 years, the story of the country’s two most successful clubs began in the humblest of surroundings on 22 March 1903.
Meeting at Milan’s Campo dell’Acquabella, a good view of which was to be had simply by perching on a mound of a turf by the pitch or by bringing a deck chair, it would be Juventus that struck the first of many decisive blows over Il Diavolo,* founders Luigi Forlano and Umberto Malvano netting in a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals of the now defunct Federal Championships.
The second “first” between the pair would arrive 27 years later in May 1930 for the Bianconeri’s maiden Serie A visit to Milan’s newly constructed home. Raimundo Orsi’s effort within the opening 60 seconds looked to have set Juve on course for a repeat result only for Giuseppe Torriani to net a last gasp equaliser for a share of the spoils.
3) The top scorers
Every big fixture has its striking heroes and this one is no different. Though Juventus hold a narrow advantage over Saturday’s hosts for goals scored (223 vs. 210), it is Milan’s marksmen of time gone by that, on the whole, top the individual charts.
While the Bianconeri and Rossoneri both boast two players of their own in the top 5 with Felice Borel and Giampiero Boniperti bulging the Milan net nine times apiece, 13 of goal king José Alfatini’s 14 strikes in this fixture came while in the colours of Milan between 1958 and 1965.
The narrowest of Milan victories on points, you could say.
4) The winner
It takes more than just goals to forge a winning past and who better to demonstrate that than a goalkeeper? A legendary one at that.
In the modern era (from the 1993/94 season onwards), no player from either team has emerged victorious more times in this fixture than Gianluigi Buffon whose 11 triumphs comfortably trump those of Milan’s frontrunner Gennaro Gattuso (seven).
Interestingly neither Buffon nor Gattuso are the pair to have made the most appearances however; that honour goes to Alessandro Del Piero (25) and Paolo Maldini (24) respectively.
5) The ex's
An example of a few of the names that would feature in a hypothetical XI composed only of those who have represented both Juve and Milan is as good an indicator as any as to the prestige of this fixture.
Consider this: a team featuring the aforementioned Alfatini, Roberto Baggio, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Filippo Inzaghi leading the line, Edgar Davids and Andrea Pirlo pulling the strings in midfield and Gianluca Zambrotta providing the width down the flanks would cause problems for anyone across Europe. Choosing a coach shouldn’t be a problem: take your pick from one of either Fabio Capello, Carlo Ancelotti or Massimiliano Allegri.
Speaking of ex’s, how about a word on Alessandro Matri? The 31-year old striker’s late equaliser at the San Siro on 25 February 2012 will live long in the memories of Juve fans for its importance to the Bianconeri’s long-awaited 30th Scudetto triumph.
6) The one to remember
6 April 1997. Milan 1-6 Juventus. A date that should stick in the mind for all Juve fans of a certain age.
As reigning European champions, Scudetto winners elect and Champions League finalists for the second consecutive season, it was a case of right place, right time, right team for Marcello Lippi’s men that Spring evening at the San Siro.
Having recalled former coach Arrigo Sacchi to replace Oscar Tabarez midway through a campaign that would see the 18-time winners finish as low as 11th, Milan were enduring one of their worst campaigns in recent history.
The result was a record away victory for Juve, putting six past their helpless hosts. With every black and white touch turning to gold, Lippi’s men were in control but far from out of sight at half-time thanks to early efforts from Vladimir Jugovic and Zinedine Zidance but from then on, it was plain sailing.
Jugovic would add a third moments after the restart to proceed a Christian Vieri brace and a late Nicola Amoruso cherry on the cake to round off a truly remarkable away performance from the Bianconeri.
7) The picks of the bunch
Where to even start in a contest for the best ever Juve goal at the San Siro? With 95 in total to choose from, three need-to-know strikes spring to mind. In this instance, we will let the images do the talking.
1) October 1971: Roberto Bettega’s brilliant backheel.
2) April 1993: Roberto Baggio’s dummy, drive and finish.
3) May 2005: David Trezeguet’s Scudetto-winning header
8) The new heroes
Not that Juve’s more recent vintages haven’t produced heroes of their own in this fixture.
With back-to-back winners at the San Siro in the March and September of 2014, not to mention the opening goal in the return fixture in Turin later that season, perhaps Carlos Tevez, now of Boca Juniors, can make the strongest claim to “hero” status in the last decade for the Bianconeri.
Albeit on the basis of one particularly unforgettable match alone, Claudio Marchisio makes a compelling case of his own though. After all, it was il Principino’s last-gasp brace that provided the home faithful with their first ever Juventus Stadium victory over Milan in October 2011, a pair of goals that are always worth another look.
As for new arrivals – though unlikely to feature this weekend - Paulo Dybala’s magical touch and finish last November was his third in as many top-flight meetings with Milan having found the target twice in his time in Sicily with Palermo.
Having ticked the likes of Napoli and Torino off his list, maybe Saturday will be the night of Simone Zaza: the number 7 has already found the San Siro net twice in his career.
9) The six in a row
Record-breaking winning streaks have become something of a specialty for Juventus this season.
As is well known Massimiliano Allegri’s men raised the bar on the previous record for consecutive victories (15) earlier in the campaign but within that spell lay a lesser-known Milan-related landmark well worthy of attention.
November’s 1-0 success was Juve’s sixth consecutive defeat of the Rossoneri, a feat never before achieved by either side in the 113-year history of the fixture. In fact, Il Diavolo have won just one of their last five encounters with Saturday’s visitors on home turf, collecting four points from a possible 15.
A seventh on the spin would certainly not go amiss.
10) The last
