Derby d'Italia

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The matchup between Juventus and Inter is perhaps the most intense match in Italy between two teams from different cities, historically since the 1950s and 60s, and especially after the Calciopoli which saw Juventus stripped of their league title from 2005–06 and given to Inter. After a field invasion due to the overflowing stands during a derby fixture in the 1960–61 season, Lega Calcio awarded the match to Inter but later FIGC overturned the decision and ordered a replay, much to the fury of Inter president Angelo Moratti and club supporters. Moratti accused the Italian football association of favouritism due to the Agnelli family's influence, as Umberto Agnelli was FIGC president at that time. In protest, Inter fielded their youth players for the replay and were thrashed 9–1. Juventus striker Omar Sívori scored six goals in the match and went on to win the Ballon d'Or that year, Inter only goal was scored by a young Sandro Mazzola. During the 1997–98 fixture at the Stadio delle Alpi there was controversy over referee Piero Ceccarini's decisions, in particular not to award a penalty for Mark Iuliano's foul on Inter forward Ronaldo in the direct clash between the two teams decisive for the title with Inter behind only 1 point with 4 games left. Juventus, up 1–0 at the time of the incident, were after few seconds awarded a penalty which was missed by Alessandro Del Piero; Juventus won the game 1–0 and with this secured the scudetto with five points ahead. The incident caused heated arguments in the Italian parliament during a publicly broadcast 'question time' session in April 1998. Domenico Gramazio of the National Alliance reportedly shouted 'They are all thieves!' at fellow politician and former Juventus player Massimo Mauro of the ruling Democrats of the Left, prompting Chamber of Deputies member and then-Deputy Prime Minister Walter Veltroni to comment, 'We are not at a stadium. This is a spectacle that is unworthy, embarrassing and grotesque...'. The session had to be suspended and several politicians were later penalised as a result. During the days leading up to the derby on 5 December 2009 in Turin, there were fears about the Juventus ultras abusing Inter's Italian striker Mario Balotelli (who is of Ghanaian descent) due to a history of racial abuse from fans. Juventus chairman Jean-Claude Blanc and Mirella Scirea, widow of Juventus legend Gaetano S

In Their Own Story

The Anfield crowd roars for a different battle entirely. Here, the red tide swells against the blue of Everton or the red of Manchester United. The air smells of damp brick and passion, not the espresso-scented tension of Turin. A Liverpool historian looks at a ticket stub from 1985, not for a Derby d'Italia, but for a European Cup final in Rome—a clash of nations, not a domestic Italian derby. The history books are clear: Liverpool's wars are fought on English soil or across the continent, never within the borders of Italy as a local rivalry.

Did You Know?

• The term 'Derby d'Italia' was coined in 1967 by Italian sports journalist Gianni Brera.
• The biggest win in the derby was Juventus 9–1 Inter on 10 June 1961, with Omar Sívori scoring six goals.
• Inter's biggest win was 6–0 against Juventus on 4 April 1954.
• As of 14 February 2026, Juventus have 54 higher finishes in Serie A head-to-head rankings, Inter have 39.