While the Serie A returns to action on Friday with the much anticipated battle between Roma and Napoli, the weekend’s most entertaining battle could very well take place on Sunday afternoon.
Fiorentina play host to rivals Juventus in what is undoubtedly the most important clash of the season to Viola fans, and one that will have ramifications on the standings given the ambition of both sides this season.
With no regional or political ideologies provoking the hatred between the two sides this rivalry is largely based on footballing matters, though nothing in Italian football is ever limited to what takes place on the field.
Whether it be the controversial events of the 1981/82 season, the two-legged UEFA Cup final in 1989/90 or the sale of Roberto Baggio to the Bianconeri in 1990, the two sides have never been able to shake the tension from those events. No wonder Viola fans are already dubbing this week as the leadup to “the match”, with every other fixture this season failing to live up to the importance of this battle.
Fiorentina last tasted victory against Juventus in the 2007/08 season. A late Pablo Daniel Osvaldo strike lifted the Viola to a famous 3-2 victory.
To find the last time the Viola tasted victory in this rivalry you have to go back to the 2007/08 season, when the Florence side defeated Juve 3-2 at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino.
Goals on that March day came from the likes of Massimo Gobbi, Papa Waigo and a last minute winner from Pablo Daniel Osvaldo. Not exactly a laundry list of Viola legends, but nonetheless those names still hold some notoriety amongst Fiorentina supporters thanks to their exploits that day.
However, results have not gone in the Viola’s favour since that day as they have racked up four defeats and five draws in their battles against the Gobbi, a truth that no doubt stings the pride of supporters but fails in comparison to Fiorentina’s disappointing recent home record in this rivalry…
When the two sides step take the field at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Sunday, the Gigliati will be looking to snap their 15 year winless run at home against the Turin giants. December 13, 1998 was the last time the Viola got the better of their rivals when club legend Gabriel Omar Batistuta got his head onto a Luís Oliveira cross to leave the home fans rocking the night away.
Giovanni Trapatoni and Marcello Lippi manned the benches that day, with current Juventus boss Antonio Conte part of the Bianconeri midfield along with the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Edgar Davids and Didier Deschamps. While not as star ladened, the Viola still rolled out the likes of Francesco Toldo, Manuel Rui Costa and Edmundo in what was a triumphant day for the Gigliati.
A lot has changed since then, with both sides having tasted the bitterness of relegation (though how those demotions came about is a discussion for another day) to go along with a fruitful rebirth.
Under the guidance of upstarts Antonio Conte and Vincenzo Montella, both clubs are looking to lead the Serie A into a new age thanks to their inventive footballing philosophies in a country that has long been defined by its defensive structure and counter attacking ways.
Conte currently holds the advantage in the head-to-head battle with two victories and two draws over the past two seasons against L’Aeroplanino. Sunday would be the perfect time to break that streak, and bring the Viola back into the thick of things at the top of the standings after two consecutive draws against Parma and Lazio.
Montella won’t be able to count on the likes of Batistuta like Trapattoni did in 1998, but with Mario Gomez still on the sidelines the stage is set for Giuseppe Rossi to follow in the Argentine’s footsteps and bring home that victory that Gigliati have fans have long been craving.
Follow Adriano Boin on Twitter: @Boin44
