Inter vs Juventus: Five historic Derby d'Italia fixtures

Regardless of the form of either team, the Derby d'Italia is one of the biggest fixtures in the Serie A calendar, with some of the greatest names in Italian football taking to the pitch in either Milan or Turin for Inter and Juventus.

A match given a national identity by journalist Gianni Brera in the 1960s due to the success of the duo has only grown in importance over the passing decades, which gives the clashes between the sides extra flavour.

What have been the five best Derby d'Italia fixtures over the years?

Juventus 9-1 Inter - Serie A - June 10, 1961

Shortly before the fixture received its famous name, it was indeed Inter and Juventus battling it out for the Serie A title with two games remaining of the campaign and it seemed that everyone in Turin and beyond wanted to witness this historic clash. There were so many spectators packed into the Stadio Comunale Vittorio Pozzo that they could not be controlled and began spilling onto the pitch. On 31 minutes the referee had little option other than to stop the game and the Nerazzurri were awarded the points.

The Italian federation, though, whose president was Umberto Agnelli, also Juventus president, ordered the fixture to be replayed. That angered Inter counterpart Angelo Moratti, and helped fuel the rivalry and hatred between the two clubs, so they sent a youth team in protest. As expected, the Bianconeri stormed to a 9-1 win, with Omar Sivori netting six times, and went onto to take the title.

It was also notable for being the last match of Juventus legend Giampiero Boniperti, and debut of future Nerazzurri and Italy Men's National Team icon Sandro Mazzola, who scored the visitors consolation goal.

Inter 2-0 Juventus - Serie A - December 27, 1970

Not only had Inter not been victorious over Juventus for five seasons by the start of the 1970s, they had also not lifted the Scudetto or lifted a single trophy of note since triumphing over the Bianconeri in 1965/66 and it had become something of psychological barrier for the Nerazzurri.

A clash at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on a wintery afternoon in late December convinced Inter that they were worthy title challengers once more, though. As goals from Mario Corso and Roberto Boninsegna secured victory. The Nerazzurri would go onto win the Scudetto and Boninsegna would be crowned capocannoniere with Serie A 24 goals.

Juventus 1-0 Inter – Serie A – April 26, 1998

Another fixture destined to decide the Scudetto took place on a grey afternoon at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, would become clouded in controversy, with a series of questionable decisions from referee Piero Ceccarini sparking arguments from Inter and Juventus supporters decades later.

With home advantage and just three more games to play, the Nerazzurri were confident of overtaken a Bianconeri team top of the standings by one point and taking the 1997/98 Serie A title. Even after Alessandro Del Piero gave the visitors the lead midway through the first half, World Player of the Year Ronaldo was striking fear into the Juventus defence and was blatantly fouled in the penalty area by Mark Iuliano.

The referee waved play on, though, and the Old Lady countered and were awarded a spot kick instead. Although Del Piero missed. Victory helped seal the title for Juventus, the incident was debated in parliament, and politicians came to blows, such was the impact the fixture had on the peninsula.

Inter 1-2 Juventus - Serie A - March 22, 2008

While Inter were already becoming a major force again in Italian and European football under coach Roberto Mancini, the demotion of Juventus to Serie B in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal - which reinforced assumptions that the Old Lady had been using their influence on referees as far back as that infamous 1997/98 clash - also aided the Nerazzurri rise.

Within a year, though, the Bianconeri were back in Serie A and, despite going through a rebuild of a previously star-studded team, Juventus showed that they could still be a considerable obstacle to any Inter success. After drawing the first encounter of the 2007/08 campaign in Turin, the Bianconeri went to Milan and secured a 2-1 win.

Juventus 1-3 Inter - Serie A - November 4, 2012

Four years after their return to Serie A, Juventus moved into a new home and embarked on a unbelievable run of success under the stewardship of former midfielder Antonio Conte and were literally unbeatable at the Juventus Stadium. Until Inter, who were a shadow of the team that had lifted the treble just over two years earlier, arrived in Turin during the first half of the 2012/13.

Andrea Stramaccioni had been promoted from the primavera ranks to take charge of the Nerazzurri, who suffered an early blow when Arturo Vidal put the hosts in front. The inexperienced coach sparked a second-half turnaround, though, and two goals from Diego Milito and another from Rodrigo Palacio inflicted a first defeat for Juventus at their new arena.

The loss was the first in 28 games in Turin, stretching over a year, and also stopped the Bianconeri from going 50 games undefeated home and away.