SNAPSHOTS | Inter vs. Juventus, previous Coppa Italia encounters

There’s not long to go until Inter vs. Juventus! After a flawless 2-0 win on 17 January, another two clashes against the Bianconeri await, with the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final showdown scheduled for 2 February at San Siro and the return fixture set to be played in Turin exactly a week later.

It’ll be the 32nd encounter between the two sides in the Coppa Italia, with this rivalry having also been played out on plenty of occasions in Italy’s national cup competition too.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

Inter have won ten of the 31 matches they’ve played against Juventus in the Coppa Italia, with the Bianconeri having emerged victorious on 14 occasions. Seven draws complete the picture. The first meeting between the teams came in 1936. However, Inter only recorded their first victory in 1972, when Mazzola and Boninsegna got on the scoresheet in a 3-1 success.

THE 1959 AND 1965 FINALS

Inter and Juventus have faced each other twice in the Coppa Italia final, with the Bianconeri emerging victorious on both occasions. On 13 September 1959, Juventus ran out 4-1 winners in Milan thanks to goals from Charles, Sivori and Cervato (x2), thus rendering Bicicli’s finish meaningless. In 1965, Menichelli’s goal proved decisive in Rome.

PRESTIGIOUS GOALSCORERS

Inter’s Coppa Italia wins against Juventus have seen some great players get on the scoresheet. In 1972, the Nerazzurri beat their rivals 3-1 at San Siro thanks to goals from Mazzola and Boninsegna (2), although they lost 2-1 in Turin (Jair with Inter’s goal).

(Mario Corso looks to get the better of Fabio Capello, Inter 3-1 Juventus | Coppa Italia, 1972)

(Bonisegna scores against Juventus | Coppa Italia, 1972)

(An exchange of greetings, Inter 3-1 Juventus Coppa Italia 1972. From left to right: Burgnich, Bordon, Mazzola, Facchetti, Oriali; Marchetti, Cuccureddu)

In 1975, Boninsegna and Facchetti found the net in a 2-1 Inter win in Turin. However, the Nerazzurri then suffered a heavy 6-2 home defeat to the same side. In 1977, meanwhile, an early Gabriele Oriali goal proved to be the difference at San Siro.

(Oriali, Gentile and Causio: future members of Italy’s World Cup-winning side| Inter 1-0 Juventus. Coppa Italia, 1977)

THREE GOALS AT THE STADIO DELLE ALPI

The various encounters between Inter and Juventus in the 1980s and 1990s ended in draws or Bianconeri wins, but Inter tasted sweet success during the 1996/97 season, when they ran out 3-0 winners in Turin. On 13 November 1996, a great header from Paul Ince and a fantastic right-footed strike from Djorkaeff added to Zamorano’s opener to leave Inter in a commanding position going into the quarter-final second leg. In the return fixture, the teams played out a 1-1 draw, resulting in the Bianconeri’s elimination.

2004, ADANI’S MESSAGE AND A PENALTY SHOOTOUT DEFEAT

Eight years would pass before the two sides met again in the Coppa Italia, and this time it was a semi-final showdown full of drama. The first leg at the Stadio delle Alpi finished 2-2, with Adriano and Di Vaio both bagging braces. Having taken a 2-1 lead, the Nerazzurri were pegged back after being reduced to ten men following Toldo’s sending-off. The then very young Alex Cordaz, who now plies his trade at Crotone, replaced him between the sticks, making his one and only Inter appearance in the process.

In the return fixture, the atmosphere at San Siro was intense, with events on the pitch firing up both the players and fans. After Adriano had opened the scoring and Tudor had levelled matters, Cordoba was shown a red card 22 minutes into the second half. A goal from Del Piero looked to have sunk the ten-man Nerazzurri, who, however, equalised five mintes into added time to incredibly send the game into extra time.

The man who got on the scoresheet was Lele Adani, who found the net after Chimenti had denied Emre. Incredible emotions and highly significant too: while celebrating, Adani took off his shirt to reveal the words: ‘FRANCESCO TORNA’ (‘FRANCESCO, COME BACK). We looked back at that moment here, recalling how a 15-year-old Inter fan was persuaded to return home after seeing the Nerazzurri defender’s message on TV.

Despite the great story, there was a bitter end: Chimenti's save to deny Vieri in the penalty shootout proved decisive, with Miccoli sending Juventus through to the semis.

BALOTELLI BRILLIANCE In January 2008, Inter faced Juventus in the quarter-finals. At San Siro, Julio Cruz, who was used to scoring against the Bianconeri, bagged a brace prior to goals from Del Piero and Boumsong.

The return leg at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino saw rising star Mario Balotelli shine. Despite being only 17 years old, he was unstoppable: Super Mario enjoyed a breakthrough moment on the Juventus pitch. A fantastic brace, including an unforgettable finish with his back to goal: Juventus 2-3 Inter, two goals for Balotelli and a converted penalty for Cruz.

A STEP TOWARDS THE TREBLE: MARIO ONCE AGAIN! In 2010, Inter faced Juve in a knockout quarter-final clash at San Siro. Diego scored, meaning Mourinho’s boys had to respond. They did just that through Lucio, who did remarkably well to find the net after Sneijder free kick had hit the wall. And then came Balotelli’s late finish, making it 2-1 to the Nerazzurri.

PENALTY SHOOTOUT DEFEAT AFTER A BRILLIANT COMEBACK The last time Inter crossed paths with Juventus was in the 2015/16 season, in the semi-finals. The Bianconeri dominated in Turin, winning 3-0 thanks to a brace from Morata and a goal from Dybala. However, Inter responded at San Siro, hitting back with a 3-0 win that could easily have been 4-0, with goals from Brozovic, Perisic and another for Brozovic from the penalty spot. Despite this, Juventus had the last word in the penalty shootout after Palacio’s miss.