It is here again, the Derby della Mole battle lines will be drawn once more this coming Sunday when Torino make the trip across the city to take on Juventus.
These fixtures have been cause for concern with Toro fans in the past and rightly so. When you think of some of football’s most lopsided derbies, this one sadly comes to mind for the Torinese faithful.
Up there with the likes of Espanyol and their esteemed city rivals Barcelona, 1860 Munich and all-conquering neighbours FC Bayern, this is a derby that in recent times has not gone well whatsoever for the Granata.
Since their return to Serie A last year, they have been beaten in all three with Kamil Glik being sent off in both games last year.
The game at the tail end of last season still rankles with many Granata fans as Jonathas was hauled down inside the box as he looked to get himself on the end of a cross while no penalty was given.
But that is the past now and must be forgotten about. Emphasis on must. Those players cannot step onto the pitch at Juventus Stadium on Sunday evening with the weight of that albatross around their necks.
In fact this Sunday, it will be exactly (almost to the day) 12 long years since Torino have even managed a goal in this fixture.
Benoit Cauet’s goal that put Torino ahead 10 minutes from time was overshadowed by Enzo Maresca’s late equaliser after which he sparked the ire of the Granata support by mimicking the bull in his celebration.
Players have come and went since then. In fact, the club itself has came and went since then after the fall and subsequent rise from the ashes of Torino Football Club in 2005 and the demise of Torino Calcio.
There have been promotions and relegations for both clubs since that game and nine long games in which Toro have never scored and avoided defeat just once.
Sadly, you must go back even further to find the last Granata win. Nineteen long years since that day in April 1995 when derby hero Ruggiero Rizzitelli, never the most clinical or prolific of strikers but one who had an eye for the occasion, silenced the Delle Alpi with two first half goals in a 2-1 win, two of five that he managed in this fixture.
But 19 years is too long a time for any supporters to go without derby bragging rights. Never mind the teams and players for they will come and go but it is the fans who always remain and who have for too long anticipated these fixtures with dread.
It is therefore refreshing for some real optimism reverberating around the club in relation to shocking their league-chasing, Europa League fighting rivals and getting something out of this game.
Look at the form table for the past eight games. This is a collision of the two best teams in Serie A, Juventus leading the way for their performances during this time and Torino not far behind at all in second.
That has given fans cause to dream. Where before there was trepidation, even fear, now there is anticipation and maybe expectation.
Of a win? Well perhaps. But of a performance that will at least allow fans to take a semblance of pride and satisfaction away from the game, there surely is.
Excitement reverberates around the Mirafiori and Grugliasco Toro strongholds or at the Sweet cafe on via Filadelfia that this could be different from the games of the past.
It could take its place among the great derbies that fans remember with pride. The 4-0 victory in which the Bianconeri were swept aside in the first game after the death of Gigi Meroni and Torino’s biggest post-war win in the fixture.
There is also the famous derby of March 1993 at the Comunale when Toro found themselves 2-0 down at half time. They still trailed by that scoreline with 70 minutes on the clock.
The bang, bang, bang. In the space of three minutes, Beppe Dossena, Alessandro Bonesso and the aptly named Fortunato Torrisi struck to incredibly turn the tide around. Despair had made way for delight in a matter of 120 beautiful seconds.
The comeback game of October 2001 also brings back fond memories for Torino fans. In an ‘away’ encounter at the Delle Alpi, the Juve fans found themselves rejoicing and dreaming of breaking all manner of records when they raced into a 3-0 lead after just 26 minutes through an Alessandro Del Piero double and Igor Tudor goal.
Then the magic of this club cast another spell. Cristiano Lucarelli blasted one home with his left foot after 12 minutes of the second half. 3-1. With 20 minutes to go, Marco Ferrante blasted home a penalty. 3-2. The momentum with the Granata, Ricky Maspero then slid in to connect with a rebound and level with seven minutes to go. 3-3.
One last twist of fate still ensued when Juve were awarded a late penalty and the chance to win it. While all else on the field argued furiously over the award, the wily Maspero approached the penalty and scuffed it with his boot as everyone argued. This was only noticed afterwards but it had the desired effect as Marcelo Salas stepped up and blasted the ball into orbit as Toro celebrated.
By all accounts, the mood in Turin is that there could be a repeat of these great derbies. The team is playing as well as it ever has and there could be something to be said for it already being written in the stars that Glik, the villain of this fixture (unintentionally of course) in previous meetings or Ciro Immobile, deemed unwanted by Juve, could be the man to have fans celebrating once more.
This looks to be as good a chance as ever. Juventus will be coming off the back of a tough Europa League match, Torino riding high following their comeback success on Monday night against Hellas Verona.
It was brought to my attention too by a friend who bleeds granata that in the past three fixtures, Torino have actually failed to muster a single shot on goal.
But all of that will be consigned to history come Sunday. All the fans ask is that there is no let downs again.
Pretty sure Mario Santana’s shot on goal was parried by Buffon in the 2nd fixture last year.
You could be right Daniel, that stat comes from a friend who attended all of the games as they all seemed to blend into one for me!
I know they definitely didn’t at Juve Stadium last year, need to be more daring this time around.