Just got back from Turin and the superb all-action Serie A clash between Juventus and Roma that ended in a 1-1 draw.
It was the first time I’ve seen Juventus at home since 2001 – that time was the Saturday after 9/11 and they beat Chievo 3-2 in the Stadio Delle Alpi.
Fast forward nine years and much has changed about Juve. Back at the start of this century their ground which they share with Torino was a vast and impressive cauldron of a ground that suffered from one major minus point – the atmosphere sucked.
A running track around the ground meant even the closest fans had to have decent eye sight to see
It was the first time I’ve seen Juventus at home since 2001 – that time was the Saturday after 9/11 and they beat Chievo 3-2 in the Stadio Delle Alpi.
Fast forward nine years and much has changed about Juve. Back at the start of this century their ground which they share with Torino was a vast and impressive cauldron of a ground that suffered from one major minus point – the atmosphere sucked.
A running track around the ground meant even the closest fans had to have decent eye sight to see
the action.
But after a period of consoltation, Juve moved out the of the Delle Alpi and into the Olympic Stadium which they share with still share with Torino while the Delle Alpi is knocked down and a new, smaller, compact ground is open in time for next season.
So this is the last season Juve will share with Torino and a last chance to se
e them at this temporary home, which itself made the game something special. Few Italian teams have moved, there are very few new stadiums and next season it will be possible for me to watch Juve at home in their third stadium in under ten years.
One man who was in action against Chievo on that chilly Saturday at the foothills of the Alps nine years ago was Alessandro Del Piero who made an appearance on the touchline early in the second half to a superb reception from the hardcore Juve boys in the Curva Nord.
Del Piero has been around so long that he’d be in the same school year as me – and although he’s often used as a sub these days and came on for an ineffectual half hour period, he’s still adored by the home fans.
Those Juve fans really were great. For an Englishman watching a game in Turin there’s always the watchword of Heysel to consider. Many home fans still bear a grudge against the English for what happened in Brussels back in 1985. But having seen three Juventus games now, I can only say that they seem to have no malice towards us.
Despite that, I still don’t fancy having a night in the Curva Nord just yet.
We picked up tickets for the game form a ticket shop in the centre of town, ironically on Via Roma – and for 40 Euros got a decent view eight rows from the front near the corner flag.
Before the game there was a good atmosphere which I took in while learning that Norwich had let slip a 3-1 lead at Reading. The noise inside the ground steadily got better and better and just as the team ran out, AC/DC’s Thunderstruck rang out around the ground and the teams entered after being announced in English: “Introducing Juventus Football Club”.
A strange touch, but given their links to England – they were formed by Notts County fans – that was understandable
Roma dominated the early exchanges. Francesco Totti, a man who has never disappointed when I’ve watched him on two previous occasions (scoring in both) was everywhere and I was impressed by Daniele De Rossi in the Roma midfield who was involved i
n everything early on.
Juve played a cat and mouse game, getting men behind the ball and just using Vicenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella on the break. Two former Liverpool players in John Arne Riise and Alberto Aquilani were also eye-catching in the first 45.
Juve, playing in their gorgeous white away kit with red and green flashes (to celebrate a new sponsorship deal) took the lead against the run of play on 34 minutes when a cross from the right was beautifully volleyed home by Quagliarella
Juve could have had more before the break but wasteful finishing meant Roma were always likely to get back on level terms, and that they did right on half time when they won a penalty and Totti converted it.
The second half saw few chances and what pressure Roma excerted was easily snuffed out by the impressive Giorgio Chiellini, who is rapidly becoming one of my Serie A favourites.
He can’t defend for toffee sometimes and could easily have been sent off twice, but the shaven-haired centre back, who ended the game with a bandage around his head and a face-full of claret, is great to watch with his over the top gesticulation and dirty tricks.
A 1-1 draw was a fair result and both sides were great to watch – I hope Del Piero and Totti are still around next time I watch these two great Italian teams.
But after a period of consoltation, Juve moved out the of the Delle Alpi and into the Olympic Stadium which they share with still share with Torino while the Delle Alpi is knocked down and a new, smaller, compact ground is open in time for next season.
So this is the last season Juve will share with Torino and a last chance to se
e them at this temporary home, which itself made the game something special. Few Italian teams have moved, there are very few new stadiums and next season it will be possible for me to watch Juve at home in their third stadium in under ten years.One man who was in action against Chievo on that chilly Saturday at the foothills of the Alps nine years ago was Alessandro Del Piero who made an appearance on the touchline early in the second half to a superb reception from the hardcore Juve boys in the Curva Nord.
Del Piero has been around so long that he’d be in the same school year as me – and although he’s often used as a sub these days and came on for an ineffectual half hour period, he’s still adored by the home fans.
Those Juve fans really were great. For an Englishman watching a game in Turin there’s always the watchword of Heysel to consider. Many home fans still bear a grudge against the English for what happened in Brussels back in 1985. But having seen three Juventus games now, I can only say that they seem to have no malice towards us.
Despite that, I still don’t fancy having a night in the Curva Nord just yet.
We picked up tickets for the game form a ticket shop in the centre of town, ironically on Via Roma – and for 40 Euros got a decent view eight rows from the front near the corner flag.
Before the game there was a good atmosphere which I took in while learning that Norwich had let slip a 3-1 lead at Reading. The noise inside the ground steadily got better and better and just as the team ran out, AC/DC’s Thunderstruck rang out around the ground and the teams entered after being announced in English: “Introducing Juventus Football Club”.
A strange touch, but given their links to England – they were formed by Notts County fans – that was understandable
Roma dominated the early exchanges. Francesco Totti, a man who has never disappointed when I’ve watched him on two previous occasions (scoring in both) was everywhere and I was impressed by Daniele De Rossi in the Roma midfield who was involved i
n everything early on.Juve played a cat and mouse game, getting men behind the ball and just using Vicenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella on the break. Two former Liverpool players in John Arne Riise and Alberto Aquilani were also eye-catching in the first 45.
Juve, playing in their gorgeous white away kit with red and green flashes (to celebrate a new sponsorship deal) took the lead against the run of play on 34 minutes when a cross from the right was beautifully volleyed home by Quagliarella
Juve could have had more before the break but wasteful finishing meant Roma were always likely to get back on level terms, and that they did right on half time when they won a penalty and Totti converted it.
The second half saw few chances and what pressure Roma excerted was easily snuffed out by the impressive Giorgio Chiellini, who is rapidly becoming one of my Serie A favourites.
He can’t defend for toffee sometimes and could easily have been sent off twice, but the shaven-haired centre back, who ended the game with a bandage around his head and a face-full of claret, is great to watch with his over the top gesticulation and dirty tricks.
A 1-1 draw was a fair result and both sides were great to watch – I hope Del Piero and Totti are still around next time I watch these two great Italian teams.
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