It's not a normal match but a very classic one being played tonight at the Olimpico between Rome and Juventus. A big match that has always given unforgettable emotions and a thousand controversies, ever since, on that famous May 10, 1981, the referee Bergamo canceled a goal to the Romanist Turone that could have changed the fate of the match and perhaps of the championship. Since then, relations between black and white Turin and yellow and red Rome have become difficult, not to say bad. Accusations of doping (remember Zeman?) and counter-charges of corruption (who doesn't remember the Rolexes given to the referees by the Giallorossi president Sensi?), tregole incredibly changed during the race (in favor of the Japanese Nakata and Roma in the 2001 Scudetto match) and transfers destined to make history (above all that of Fabio Capello in the summer of 2004, but also the "snub" Emerson was no small feat). And if the Bianconceri fans have had a lot of satisfaction, the Roma players don't forget February 8, 2004 when Roma won 4-0 and Totti made fun of his rivals with the famous sequence of fingers: 4, shut up and go home. The next time, in Turin, Juve reciprocated by humiliating Totti and Roma. Since then, many protagonists of Roma-Juventus have changed on and off the pitch: Moggi is gone and neither is Sensi, Del Piero has become substitute (he is 37 years old) and Totti is nearing sunset. Tonight will be the last time the two historic captains will meet at the Olimpico: in June (Agnelli dixit) he will undress the black and white box and Roma-Juventus will never be the same again.
Standings in hand, the match would seem more important for Antonio Conte's team, but given the situation at home in Rome there is no doubt that it is worth more for Luis Enrique: the Spaniard will play the paryita and if he were to collapse, Baldini and the clubs could no longer defend him in the eyes of already impatient fans. The unfortunate challenge in Florence actually creates enormous problems for Luis Enrique, who will change the 17th formation of the season (in as many games!), more out of necessity than by choice. Daniele De Rossi will thus play central defender, while Totti should take back his place in attack. The situation is different for Conte, who has only one big doubt: who to choose to replace the injured Vucinic, the great ex absent tomorrow night? The ballot is between the young Paraguayan Estigarribia, who is growing visibly, and the old flag Alex Del Piero. Captain's pride aside, the South American should prevail. Beyond this, Conte greatly fears the trip to the Olimpico: “I expect the usual Roma, a team that I really like for how they play football. Let's say that I expect an aggressive Rome, which will want to play and which, as always, will try to play the game". Conte is well aware that, in case of victory, his Giallorossi colleague would get into a lot of trouble and perhaps for this reason he had words of praise for him: "I say that Luis Enrique is doing an excellent job, beyond the results, which we know are important in the Italian football: but we should go beyond these….”. After so many sweet words, the Juventus coach showed his usual grit and when someone asked him about his (controversial) exultation for the goal by Giaccarini in the Italian Cup he replied: “Touch me everything, but not my players. Touch me, if you want, but not my players because they are like blood brothers to me." Here it is the grit of the former captain, ready for the battle between Roma and Juventus.
