26 January 2016
Glorious beginnings
Juve’s maiden Coppa Italia triumph over Inter took place in Milan in 1936, but they would only have to wait two years before beating the Nerazzurri in Turin, as Ernesto Tomasi and Alfredo Foni (from the penalty spot) shot Juve to semi-final success at the Stadio Mussolini on 21 April 1938. They would go on to defeat inter-city rivals Torino in the final to lift the cup for the first time in their history.
Although it didn’t take place in Turin, it’s also worth mentioning that in 1959, Carlo Parola led the Old Lady to cup glory with a mesmerising display at the San Siro that would finish 4-1 to the boys in black and white. John Charles, Omar Sivori and a Sergio Cervato double made for a real masterclass as they got their hands on the coveted trophy for a third time in the club’s existence.
Games and goals galore
Between 1972 and 1980, Juve and Inter played a total 13 matches against one another in the cup, six of which took place in Turin. The first four of these fixtures at the Stadio Comunale came during a so-called ‘final group stage’ as was the cup’s format during those years.
Adriano Novellini’s brace saw Cestmir Vycpalek’s charges see off their visitors 2-1 in June 1972. The following summer, the Czech coach led his men to a second victory over the Nerazzurri in as many seasons (4-2 the final scoreline), Pietro Anastasi’s late brace proving decisive with the game tied at 2-2. Franco Causio and Silvio Longobucco had got Juve’s earlier goals.
The sides’ next two meetings in Piedmont, however, were less successful from a Bianconero perspective, as Inter edged both affairs in 1975 and 1977, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.
Then, a switch to a straight knockout competition brought with it an upturn in fortunes, when a Giovanni Trapattoni-led Juventus saw off Inter 3-1 in the 1979 quarter-final. On the mark that day were Marco Tardelli, Sergio Brio and cup hero Causio, who would ultimately net his side’s injury-time winner in that year’s final against Palermo, sewing up a sixth Coppa Italia title in the process.
1980’s last eight encounter, meanwhile, ended in a goalless stalemate, but that was enough to send the hosts into the semi-finals after they had won the previous leg 2-1 at the San Siro.
Seventh heaven
Eight electric minutes in the 1983 semi-final first leg ultimately paved the way for a seventh Coppa Italia success. Giuseppe Baresi’s own goal and Giuseppe Galderisi’s instinctive strike gave Trapattoni’s men a commanding 2-0 lead, which would, however, be reduced by Graziano Bini’s powerful header past Luciano Bodini.
Between the sticks for the visitors, meanwhile, Walter Zenga excelled in preventing the Old Lady from extending their advantage, making a string of saves, not least from Paolo Rossi’s penalty late on.
Four days later, Juve held firm in Milan, a 0-0 draw securing their passage to what would be a dramatic double header against Verona, which finished 2-0 to the Gialloblu after the first leg and 3-0 to the Bianconeri in the second, spelling a seventh success in the competition.
Extra time and penalties
The last two occasions in which Juve have knocked Inter out of the Coppa Italia are just the kind to have had anyone leaving early to beat the traffic on the way home severely regretting their decision.
In February 1992, Trapattoni’s fine record over the Nerazzurri continued, with Paolo Di Canio striking shortly after the interval to set up an intriguing second leg at the San Siro.
There, two Roberto Baggio extra-time goals would be required to secure a semi-final date with Milan after Massimo Ciocci had levelled on aggregate for the Nerazzurri.
Twelve years later, the two teams put on a superb spectacle during the 2004 semi-finals, as Marco Di Vaio twice responded to Adriano strikes for Alberto Zaccheroni’s Inter outfit in a pulsating 2-2 draw at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
* *
The return game in Milan was no less exciting, with Adriano opening the scoring before goals from Alessandro Del Piero and Igor Tudor looked to have seen Juve over the line to the final, but then Daniele Adani’s 95th minute equaliser sent the game into extra time and then spot-kicks.
Del Piero, Enzo Maresca, Pavel Nedved, Nicola Legrottaglie and Fabrizio Miccoli all kept their cool from 11 metres to seal a 5-4 penalty shootout victory and a place in the Coppa Italia final, which, however, would be won by Lazio.
Precisely another 12 years later, having already beaten the Biancocelesti in the quarter-finals, the aim will be to go one better still, starting with a win over Roberto Mancini’s men on Wednesday evening.
