It was the 2003 Champions League Final and it was played at Old Trafford. As could be expected both sides were star studded and loaded with international players. Juventus had the likes of Lilian Thuram, Edgars David, David Trezegurt and Alessandro Del Piero. Among those representing the Rossoneri that day in Manchester were Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko, Paolo Maldini and Andrea Pirlo. It was a tight game with nothing in it. Both sides hit the woodwork in an encounter where chances were few and far between. In the second half, the pace of the game slowed down as both sides began to look for penalties.
Despite the prowess of both sides, both teams were hit by nerves in the shootout. Both sides missed two successive penalties to leave it all level at 1-1 after three attempts. Paolo Montero then missed for Juventus while Alessandro Nesta converted his spot kick for Milan. When Del Piero scored it meant that Shevchenko only had to score to send the title to Milan for a sixth time. He slotted it home to add another fascinating twist to the Milan – Juventus rivalry. In a way, Milan are the odd man out or the third wheel because the Milan- Juventus rivalry is the weakest of the three involving Milan, Juventus and Inter. Not that the Juventus - Milan rivalry isn’t big, but the other two are significantly bigger. Thus this rivalry sometimes gets overshadowed. Milan doesn’t have the animosity that Inter has with either Juventus or itself. The Milan-Juventus rivalry is one that is built more on a foundation of respect. Over the year, some great players have played for both Milan and Juventus which has added to the rivalry. Pippo Inzaghi is a case in point. He moved to Juventus from Atalanta in 1997. He was a great player and loved linking up with Del Piero and Zidane. In his time there they won the Scudetto once and lost in the Champions League Final to Real Madrid. He scored 58 goals from 122 matches before his move to Milan. Part of the reason for the move was the arrival in Turin of David Trezeguet. Inzaghi was worried about a lack of playing time.
After recovering from a knee injury which had kept him sidelined. Inzagi quickly formed a lethal partnership with Andriy Shevchenko. With Milan he was a member of two winning Champions League team and scored twice in the 2007 final against Liverpool in Athens. Apart from this he was a member of the Milan team which was the Serie A title in 2003-04 and also a member of the team which won the Super Cup in 2003 and 2007 and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2007. He is a prodigious goal scorer for Milan. Another manager to have been in charge of both sides is Giovanni Trapattoni. The Milan player began his managing career at Milan where he had two stints. He didn’t really achieve anything there at this time. He then moved to Juventus where he won all before him. He led Juventus to the Serie A title six times including two times when they defended their title. He let them to the Italian Cup twice and the Super Cup once. He was also in control of them when they won the Intercontinental Cup.
His efforts in Europe were legendary. He led Juventus to the 1985 European Cup. On their way to the title they defeated Grasshopper, Sparta Prague, Bordeaux and Liverpool. A Michel Platini goal gave Juventus a 1-0 win in a match which is remembered more for the horrific Heysel Stadium disaster.
Another aspect of the Milan - Juventus rivalry is also due to the managers. Current Milan manager Carlo Ancelotti used to manage Juventus. As a manager at Juventus he didn’t have much success in his two years there, but all that changed when he moved to Milan. This doesn’t endear him to Juventus fans. Ancelotti has lead Milan to the Serie A title one as well as two Champions League titles. Of course the first title came at the expense of Juventus which helped make him even less liked by the Juventus faithful. He also steered Milan to two Super Cup titles and one FIFA Club World Cup trophy. He did one trophy while at Juventus – the 1999 Intertoto Cup but that pales into nothing when compared to the silverware that he has brought to Milan.
Juventus won the 1977 UEFA Cup when they defeated Spain’s Athletic Bilbao in the final 2-2 on aggregate in the two-legged final. In a sign of that era, all of Juventus’ players were Italian and all of Bilbao’s players were Spanish.
Trapattoni was at the helm again when Juventus won the 1993 UEFA Cup. They defeated Borussia Dortmund 6-1 in the two legged final. Dino Baggio and Roberto Baggio scored five of the goals between them.
Just like it was with Juventus fans and Ancelotti, it wasn’t easy for the Milan fans to see all the success Trapattoni had with Juventus.
