Andrea Salvarezza, Author at The Cult of Calcio

On December 4, 1983, Roma snatched a 2-2 tie at Juventus thanks to Roberto Pruzzo and a overhead kick he practiced on a movie set

Juventus vs Roma Throwback: Pruzzo’s Motion Picture Overhead

January 7, 2022 Andrea Salvarezza Juventus, Roma, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

Since the early ‘80s, the rivalry between Roma and Juventus has become the fieriest in Italian football. The games between the Giallorossi and the Bianconeri were often decisive to assign the Scudetto, and have always been vibrant and hard-fought.

Juventus vs Fiorentina Throwback: The Magic of Alex Del Piero

November 5, 2021 Andrea Salvarezza Fiorentina, Juventus, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

The rivalry between Juventus and Fiorentina is among the fiercest in Serie A and can you imagine a bigger pleasure for the Bianconeri fans that bouncing back from a two-goal deficit and grab all three points on offer thanks to a goal form their legend Alex Del Piero?

When they faced Roma on June 10, 2001 Napoli were in the middle of a desperate fight to avoid relegation, sitting third from last with 32 points

Throwback Thursday: The Last Descent of Napoli to the Serie B Hell

March 19, 2021 Andrea Salvarezza Napoli, Roma, Serie A, Throwback Thursday One comment

When they received a title-bidding Roma side at the San Paolo on June 10, 2001, Napoli were in the middle of a desperate fight to avoid relegation. Coached by Emiliano Mondonico, who substituted Zdenek Zeman after just six games, the Partenopei sat third from last in the Serie A table with 32 points.

Throwback Thursday: When Diego Simeone Knocked Juventus Down

March 4, 2021 Andrea Salvarezza Atletico Madrid, Italian Football, Juventus, Lazio, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

On April 1st, 2000, the Delle Alpi Stadium in Turin hosted a match that could determine the Scudetto winner between capolista Juventus and pursuer Lazio. Both clubs lined up an impressive collection of star players, including Zinedine Zidane and Alex Del Piero for Juve, Diego Simeone and Pavel Nedved for Lazio, and the Inzaghi brothers on different sides.

Roma vs Milan Throwback: Vincenzo Montella’s Unforgettable Lob

February 27, 2021 Andrea Salvarezza AC Milan, Roma, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

There is a thin line that separates great players from true outliers: It’s a fleeting border, not an easy one to cross. But beyond that border, you may sometimes happen to witness pure Genius manifesting itself. That is exactly what happened with Vincenzo Montella, when Fabio Capello’s Roma met Milan in Round 32 of Serie A 2000-2001.

Maradona and CR7 Both Made Their Serie A Debut In Verona

June 23, 2020 Andrea Salvarezza Hellas Verona, Napoli, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

There is something that Cristiano Ronaldo shares with Diego Maradona, when it comes to his Serie A debut. Just like for the Argentinian legend, CR7’s first match in Italy took place at the Bentegodi Stadium in Verona. Juventus played Chievo in their Serie A 2018-19 opening match, whereas Napoli traveled to Verona to face Hellas in the 1984-85 season.

Throwback Thursday: Inter’s Infamous Cinque Maggio

February 13, 2020 Andrea Salvarezza Inter Milan, Lazio, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

On May 5th, 2002, three teams were still battling for the Scudetto with only 90 minutes to go. Inter, leading the ranks with 69 points, were due to play Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. It was supposed to be an easy win for the Nerazzurri, in view of their long-lasting friendship with the Roman side. But Lazio's midfielder Karel Poborsky had a different idea...

Throwback Thursday: Mark Hateley’s Iconic Header

February 6, 2020 Andrea Salvarezza AC Milan, Inter Milan, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

Scoring a decisive goal in a Serie A derby can earn you a place in your supporters’ dearest collective memory. But if that goal enables your team to break a six-year non-winning streak in the Milano stracittadina, then your place in the History of Italian football is set in stone forever. That is exactly what happened to British striker Mark Hateley in 1984.

Throwback Thursday: Gullit and the Birth of the Milan-Napoli Feud

November 21, 2019 Andrea Salvarezza AC Milan, Napoli, Serie A, Throwback Thursday

If the Roma-Juventus feud characterized the first half of the ‘80s in Italian football, there is no doubt about Milan-Napoli being the most exciting duel towards the end of the decade. The match that set the beginning of this rivalry took place on January 3, 1988, when Ruud Gullit literally drove the Partenopei nuts and inflicted them their first seasonal defeat.

Throwback Thursday: Un vulcano spiana la strada al triplete interista

November 5, 2018 Andrea Salvarezza Barcelona, Champions League, European Cups, Inter Milan, Throwback Thursday

The last time Inter and Barcelona squared off at San Siro Stadium was on April 20th, 2010. It was the first leg of a Champions League Semi Final. Due to an ash cloud generated by an Icelandic volcano, the Blaugrana had to reach Milan via bus as most European flights were cancelled. The Nerazzurri won 3-1 and took one step further towards their fantastic "triplete."

Throwback Thursday: A Volcano Paved The Way To Inter’s Triplete