What a match. What an incredible match. Juventus–Inter, the big clash of the latest Serie A weekend, was one to remember , and it will likely go down as the Thuram brothers’ derby.
The two teams arrived at Saturday’s showdown in very different situations, which only added intrigue to the match. Juventus and Inter have experienced contrasting starts to the season. Igor Tudor, confirmed as Juventus coach almost by surprise, seems to have found the right formula and is making the most of his opportunity (and for that, bravo Igor).
Inter, on the other hand, are struggling. Nerazzurri fans hope this is just a temporary dip and not the start of a crisis.
Coming into the game, Juventus had collected six points from six, while Inter were stuck on just three. The result was a spectacular encounter, and it was Tudor’s side who came out on top. Juventus struck first in the 14th minute through Lloyd Kelly, one of the most unlikely scorers, assisted by Bremer (also very unlikely).
But Hakan Çalhanoğlu, one of the game’s standout performers, leveled the score on the half-hour mark with a trademark strike from distance, left-footed this time.
Just as the match seemed to settle, Juve’s new star Kenan Yıldız lit it up again. Wearing a shirt number that carries weight, the Turkish talent unleashed an unstoppable right-footed shot that left Yann Sommer with no chance. He is living up to the expectations Juventus had on him. Yet Çalhanoğlu wasn’t finished.
Thuram brothers take centre stage
With his chest he controlled the ball (a pass from Nicolo Barella) at the edge of the area and volleyed home a stunning equalizer (Michele Di Gregorio could not do anything at all). Inter then grabbed the lead through Marcus Thuram, who scored with a header but chose not to celebrate out of respect for his brother Khéphren, playing against him in Juventus colors and standing right in front of him as the ball crossed the line.
Their father, Lilian, watching from the stands, surely appreciated this respectful and kind gesture. But the Thuram family story had another twist. From a freekick perfectly shot by Yıldız, Khéphren Thuram fired Juventus level again, this time celebrating wildly, unlike his brother , before sharing smiles and jokes with him. Brothers first, opponents second.
At 3-3, the game seemed destined to finish as the Thuram brothers’ fairy tale. But then Vasilije Adžić wrote his own script. One of Juve’s latest promotions from the Next Gen, the Montenegrin midfielder chose the perfect moment to introduce himself to his fans: with a thunderous long-range strike that Sommer, far from his best all night, could not stop. The Derby d’Italia was decided in unforgettable fashion.
The win lifted Juventus to nine points, level with Antonio Conte’s seemingly unstoppable Napoli. For Cristian Chivu’s Inter, however, it was a night to forget. With only three points from three matches, this marks one of Inter’s worst starts in recent history, their worst 14 years. Chivu now finds himself under pressure, with patience in short supply.