Juventus vs Inter Throwback: How a Brick Ruined a Thrilling Derby d’Italia

Although Milan fans may argue with that, the eternal clash between Juventus and Inter is billed as the Derby d’Italia as it puts against each other what are traditionally considered the two most successful and prominent clubs from the Belpaese.

The debate about such definition being valid or not will probably never end. However, there could be little doubts about it ahead the 1982/83 Serie A season, when the Rossoneri had suffered the shame of a demotion to the second division for the first time.

Inter and Juventus, on the other hand, were alive and healthy. Coached by Giovanni Trapattoni, the Bianconeri were the backbone of the Azzurri, featuring six of Italy’s starters who had incredibly won the World Cup the previous summer. Plus, they had just acquired the services of a 27-year-old French trequartista named Michel Platini.

Inter had won the Coppa Italia the previous season and had reinforced an already impressive roster with the signings of German veteran Hansi Muller from Stuttgart and Brazilian sensation Juary from Serie A minnows Avellino – even though the latter who end up having a disappointing stint.

That year, Juventus and Inter gave life to one of the most exciting editions of the Italian derby ever. The result from the pitch, though, was canceled due to some Bianconeri fans’ behavior before the game.     

On May 1, 1983, the tension was high: with three Serie A games to go, Juventus needed to win the Derby d’Italia to remain on Roma’s track as the Giallorossi were leading the table with a three-point cushion over Trapattoni’s side and a five-point lead over third-placed Inter.  

Plus, three weeks later, Juventus were expected to face Hamburger SV in their second Champions League Final ever (back then, the tournament was still called European Cup and featured only one club per country). They had lost the first to Johann Cruijff’s Ajax in 1973 and, knowing the Bianconeri’s eternal struggle to lift the top European competition trophy, it shouldn’t be difficult for a modern-day football fan to imagine how this would end as well.

But now, the focus was on the Derby d’Italia. Which didn’t have a good start, though.

As Inter’s bus arrived at the then Stadio Comunale in Turin, it was assaulted by a handful of Juventus thugs. They threw bricks at the bus, one of which crashed a window glass and hit player Giampiero Marini to the head.  

Luckily enough, the Nerazzurri midfielder didn’t get seriously hurt but was still carried to a hospital to be checked and could not feature in the game. Inter coach Rino Marchesi lined up Antonio Sabato in his place. The medical report was delivered to the referee right before the game start and so the Derby d’Italia could kick off.  

And, what a show that was.

On 27 minutes, Inter’s Alessandro Altobelli, another incumbent World Champion, received the ball from Evaristo Beccalossi and fired a phenomenal shot from outside the box that left no chance to 41-year-old Dino Zoff.

Twelve minutes later, Hansi Muller whipped the ball to the right edge of the box, where a young Giuseppe Baresi (the older brother of Milan’s legendary libero Franco) bested World Champion Antonio Cabrini and serviced Gabriele Lele Oriali, whose lightning-fast conclusion beat Zoff for the second time.

But the game was still long, and Juventus had a certain Michel Platini on their side. Just before the half time break, Le Roi exchanged with Polish midfielder Zbigniew Boniek and beat Ivano Bordon with a clinical diagonal shot to make it 1-2.

Ten minutes into the second half though, Inter re-established their two goal-lead with another brilliant team effort. This time, it was Sabato to run along the right flank and serve Beccalossi in the middle of the box. The Brescia-born midfielder promptly delivered the ball to Muller, whose shot pierced Zoff at the far post.

The Old Lady’s reaction was relentless but Inter goalkeeper Bordon, who was Zoff’s backup at World Cup 1982, seemed unpassable. First, he defused a close-range shot from Boniek, and then he denied Marco Tardelli and Domenico Marocchino with two incredible back-to-back saves.

Bordon couldn’t do anything, however, when Platini jumped and headed the ball home from a right-hand side cross. The Bianconeri’s efforts eventually bore fruit as their veteran striker Roberto Bettega resolved in his side’s favor a chaotic action in the Nerazzurri’s box, making it 3-3 with a close-range tap-in.

In retrospect, it’s just a shame that such a thrilling show did not have any impact on the season outcome. One week later, Roma won the Scudetto – the second in their history – as all they needed was one point against Genoa. Juventus ended second and lost a tedious edition of the European Cup Final to a lone goal from Felix Magath. Inter confirmed their third position in the league table.  

And, what’s worse, this spectacular edition of the Derby d’Italia disappeared from the football records as the Nerazzurri were eventually awarded a 2-0 forfeit win in view of the regrettable events that happened before the game.   

 

MATCH SCORECARD

May 1, 1983 – Serie A 1982-83 Round 28
JUVENTUS – INTER 3-3

SCORERS: 27′ Altobelli (I), 37′ Oriali (I), 44′ Platini (J), 55′ H. Muller (I), 70′ Platini (J), 76′ Bettega (J)

REFEREE: Mr. Barbaresco from Cormons
NOTES: Red Card: Bettega (J)