Seven great games between the Viola and the Bianconeri
It has already been dubbed the ‘Derby della Vlahovic’ with Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic set to return to the Stadio Artemio Franchi when Fiorentina host Juventus in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday, March 2.
Yet there is far more to the intense rivalry between the two clubs than just a single player. Football Italia takes a look back at five memorable matches between the Bianconeri and Viola.
Juventus 3-1 Fiorentina, UEFA Cup final, first leg, May 2, 1990
The perceived injustice of losing the Serie A title to Juventus on the final day of the 1981-1982 season lingered long in the minds of Fiorentina fans ahead of the first all-Italian UEFA Cup final.
Another part of the bitter rivalry was forged at the Stadio Comunale in Turin as the Bianconeri defeated the Viola in controversial circumstances.
Midfielder Roberto Galia converted Salvatore Schillaci’s right-wing cross early on to send the home fans into raptures of delight.
Roberto Baggio provided the inspiration as Fiorentina equalised quickly, Renato Buso heading beyond Stefano Tacconi in the Juve goal at the near post.
Level at the break, Fiorentina were incensed when Bianconeri forward Pierluigi Casiraghi pushed Viola defender Celeste Pin before firing the Vecchia Signora ahead.
Italian international defender Luigi De Agostini netted a long range third as goalkeeper Marco Landucci completely misjudged the bounce of the ball as Juve registered an unassailable first leg victory.
Fiorentina 1-0 Juventus, Serie A, April 6, 1991
The emotional return of Roberto Baggio to Florence for the first time following a then world record £8million move to Juventus provided more drama than most box set thrillers.
Viola supporters rioted, attacking the club’s headquarters when the brilliant young attacker was sold to the Bianconeri after losing the UEFA Cup final (3-1 on aggregate) to their most despised rivals.
The Fiorentina tifosi provided a wall of noise, constantly jeering and whistling whenever Baggio touched the ball.
Although Diego Fuser scored the only goal for the home side with a superb curling free-kick it was almost an afterthought as Baggio refused to take a penalty against his former club.
Luigi De Agostini missed the spot-kick and Baggio was substituted, picking up a Fiorentina flag thrown from the stands as he trudged dejectedly to the substitute’s bench.
Baggio, who had embraced his former team-mates before the game began, even saluted the Viola ultras as he left the field to a mixed reception.
Juventus 3-2 Fiorentina, Serie A, December 3, 1994
Football Italia viewers were spoiled in a classic which featured legendary strikers, a last minute winner and two iconic coaches.
The Bianconeri’s Marcello Lippi casually smoked a cigar while a dapper looking Claudio Ranieri gestured animatedly from the touchline as Gabriel Batistuta was involved in Francesco Baiano’s opener for Fiorentina.
A thumping half volley from midfielder Angelo Carbone had the sizeable away contingent at the vast Stadio Delle Alpi celebrating wildly.
However Juve mounted an extraordinary comeback, Fabrizio Ravanelli whipping in from the left flank for Gianluca Vialli to bullet home a fierce near post header.
Vialli then slid home the equaliser as Ravanelli unsettled the Fiorentina defence.
The best was saved for last as Alessandro Del Piero clinched a memorable victory in spectacular style. Alessandro Orlando sent a cross high into the air which Del Piero watched carefully before showing exceptional technique to volley with the outside of his right boot beyond Fiorentina goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
Juventus 3-3 Fiorentina, Serie A, January 6, 2001
Dazzling fantasistas and prolific attackers squared off in a six goal thriller with both clubs in the top four in the standings.
Zinedine Zidane was the orchestrator for Juventus and Rui Costa the creator for Fiorentina as two Italian internationals claimed doubles at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
The Viola’s Enrico Chiesa evaded the Bianconeri defence to break the stalemate and Nuno Gomes was given ample space and time to side foot past Edwin van der Sar in the Juve goal.
Antonio Conte bundled home as the Old Lady mounted a comeback and Filippo Inzaghi, who was booked for a theatrical first half dive, won and converted a penalty to restore parity.
Two outstanding goals followed. Inzaghi struck a flawless low volley from distance which flew beyond Francesco Toldo, and Chiesa curled a free-kick round the Juve defensive wall into the bottom corner to claim a point for the Viola.
Fiorentina 3-3 Juventus, Serie A, April 9, 2005
The Viola secured an invaluable point as they struggled to avoid relegation while hampering Juve’s title bid under the lights at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Fiorentina were desperate to stay in the newly expanded Serie A and made the perfect start as striker Giampaolo Pazzini lashed into the top corner early on.
A goalkeeping howler from Sebastian Cejas allowed Alessandro Del Piero to equalise but Giorgio Chiellini headed Fiorentina back in front before half-time.
The 20-year old Chiellini, sporting a full head of hair in his first season in the top flight, was involved in a defensive mix-up with the hapless Cejas and Zlatan Ibrahimovic profited to level again.
Defender Dario Dainelli rose to send a superb header high beyond Bianconeri ‘keeper Gianluigi Buffon, yet Ibrahimovic ensured a stalemate.
The Swede collected a sublime backheel from substitute Marcelo Zalayeta to prod into the net and silence the home support.
Fiorentina 0-3 Juventus, Coppa Italia semi-final, second leg, April 7, 2015
The Bianconeri overturned a 2-1 deficit to seal a place in the Coppa Italia final and silence the Artemio Franchi stadium in the process.
It’s easy to forget Mohamed Salah spent four months on loan at the Viola from Chelsea in 2015 and the Egyptian netted twice as Fiorentina claimed a 2-1 first leg win in Turin.
Salah had an early goal ruled out but thereafter Juventus ruthlessly exposed deficiencies in the home side’s defence to plunder an impressive away win.
The midfield duo of Claudio Marchisio and Alexis Vidal drove Juve forward as Alessandro Matri levelled the tie with a close range finish.
Viola goalkeeper Neto could only parry Alvaro Morata’s low drive into the path of Roberto Pereyra who made no mistake to send Juve two ahead.
Leonardo Bonucci struck a superb first time volley from Marchisio’s corner to ensure Juve’s place in the final despite Morata being sent off late on.
Juventus 0-3 Fiorentina, Serie A, December 22, 2020
Franck Ribery outshone Cristiano Ronaldo as the Viola shocked Juve with a first win in Turin for 12 years.
In a clash of ageing legends, the Frenchman inspired Fiorentina to a stunning victory as the Bianconeri faltered under the leadership of Andrea Pirlo.
The Italian champions fell behind after just three minutes when Ribery sent a sumptuous through ball to Dusan Vlahovic and the Serbian forward chipped over Wojciech Szczęsny.
It all deteriorated rapidly for Juve as Juan Cuadrado was sent off for a bone crunching tackle on Gaetano Castrovilli and Alex Sandro scored an own goal.
Even the best efforts of Ronaldo and winger Federico Chiesa, who had made the switch from the Viola to Juve just two months previously, were not enough as ex-Juve defender Martin Caceres incredibly netted a third.
It was one of many low points for Pirlo as he lasted less than a year in charge of the Vecchia Signora.
A version of this article featured on the Football Italia website on Sunday, February 27, 2022.
Stephen Kasiewicz 