It’s been a big week for Juventus. First they travelled to the Stadio San Paolo to take on league-leaders Napoli, the home crowd turning the vast arena into a cauldron as they so often do and showering hatred upon their former idol Gonzalo Higuain. The striker appeared completely non-plussed, beckoning the fans to get even louder as he went through his pre-match warm-up routine, only to silence them 13 minutes after the opening whistle.
Scoring what would prove to be the only goal of the game, there would be no repeat of his muted celebrations from last season, Higuain instead letting the capacity crowd know he thoroughly enjoyed putting his old club to the sword. From there, the team moved on to Greece, recording a victory against Olympiacos that ensured Max Allegri’s men would progress to the Champions League knockout rounds once again.
It certainly wasn’t pretty, the Old Lady turning in a cautious and guarded performance as she secured that coveted last-16 berth. Yet in between those two matches, events elsewhere ensured that Juve’s next outing would take on arguably even greater significance than those played immediately before it.
In defeating Chievo 5-0 at San Siro, Inter – the last unbeaten side in Italy’s top division – moved to the top of the Serie A table for the first time since January 2016. Their form has given the Nerazzurri hope of ending a long trophy drought, while new boss Luciano Spalletti has seemingly brought stability to a club that has lacked that quality for far too long.
Indeed, it is difficult to understate just how erratic Inter have been since Jose Mourinho left the club back in 2010, the Milanese giants never coming close to repeating the incredible treble secured during the final season of the Portuguese boss’ tenure. They would lift the Coppa Italia and be league runner’s up the following year, only to collapse as their ageing squad broke up over the next few seasons.
Inter have since finished 6th, 9th, 5th, 8th, 4th and 7th while cycling through no fewer than twelve managerial changes following Mourinho’s departure. Throw in takeovers by two different ownership groups and it is clear that the Nerazzurri have endured no end of difficulties across those seven long years.
All of which makes what Spalletti has done even more remarkable. Shrugging off so many false dawns and broken promises, his team have played with poise, purpose and pace, tearing into opponents while looking strong and resolute in defence. The arrival of Slovakia international Milan Škriniar has galvanised a previously leaky backline, while the Tuscan coach has brought the very best from attacking trio Antonio Candreva, Ivan Perišić and Mauro Icardi.
Feeding off the chances created by the other two, Icardi has undoubtedly been the key man, currently topping Serie A’s scoring charts with 16 goals in the first 15 rounds of action. Converting chances at a remarkable rate, the Argentinian is averaging just 3.5 shots per 90 minutes according to WhoScored.com, yet he has still managed to find the back of the net once every 87.9 minutes.
While a few issues still need addressing Icardi’s goal scoring, Škriniar’s defensive prowess and Spalletti’s coaching have come together to provide a glimpse of a bright future for Inter. Sadly however, clashes between the Nerazzurri and Juventus always become weighed down by the history of hatred shared by the two clubs.
Legendary Italian journalist Gianni Brera labelled the fixture the “Derby d’Italia” back in the 1960s when they were the peninsula’s two most decorated clubs, but it is a game that has come to represent every dire stereotype of the sport in Italy. A 1961 ruling in Juve’s favour saw Inter field their youth team and lose 9-1 to the Bianconeri, while a penalty decision in a 1998 meeting sparked a fist fight in the Italian parliament.
The 2006 Calciopoli scandal saw Juve relegated and stripped of titles, while the statute of limitations expired before Inter could be punished for their own involvement in the systematic influencing of referees. Even now, almost 12 years later, the mere mention of the case can spark a storm on social media, supporters on both sides far too entrenched in their respective positions to ever hear what the other has to say.
Neither is likely to ever change their opinion, but the entire furore simply detracts from what is set to be another high quality, emotionally charged and hugely significant clash in Turin. Having derailed Napoli’s title charge last weekend, Juventus will know they can do the same again here, while Inter will be aware of the importance of retaining top spot when the final whistle blows.
Make no mistake, the history of the Derby d’Italia is hugely important and has shaped much of what has happened in Serie A since Brera bestowed that title upon this fixture, but none of that matters when action gets underway on Saturday night. It is not about the past, it is about the present, and the fate of the 2017/18 Scudetto could well be shaped by events at Juventus Stadium.
