Juventus vs. Inter Milan: Igor Tudor's Sweetest Revenge Shrouded in Drama

TURIN, SATURDAY – The Derby d’Italia at the Allianz Stadium, Turin, which concluded on Sunday (14/9/2025) in the early hours of WIB, may be remembered as one of the most thrilling yet absurd matches. The rivalry between Igor Tudor and Cristian Chivu also fueled the game, resulting in several magical moments. Both Inter Milan and Juventus were able to score numerous goals from very challenging situations.

Through a thrilling match that lasted until the end, Juventus finally concluded the resistance of the "Nerazzurri." Both teams exchanged goals throughout the game, which ended in a dramatic victory of 4-3 for Juventus. This victory serves as the sweetest revenge for Juventus coach Igor Tudor against Cristian Chivu. Whether as a player or a coach, Tudor has always struggled to conquer Chivu.

That day of reckoning finally came in an unusual way. To limit Chivu's Inter, Tudor instructed his players to immediately implement an overload strategy whenever the opposition gained possession near the penalty box.

The strategy successfully reduced the sharpness of Inter's front line. Throughout the match, Inter was only able to make four shots on target. The remaining attempts by Inter's players to shoot were thwarted by Juventus' solid defense. It was recorded that there were eight shots from Inter that were blocked.

"We need to be better at reading the game. However, we came here to play and try to win it. We were less calm in knowing how to act differently, especially in the last ten minutes. I never look at things individually. I mean, we should have managed certain situations better," said Chivu.

The same approach was taken by Chivu to extinguish Juventus's creativity in the final third. Utilizing a 3-5-2 formation, Inter's players will create a 5-3-2 pattern that consolidates in front of the penalty area. Individual marking tactics are also implemented to prevent Juventus's forwards from freely holding onto the ball for extended periods.

In limited movement and space, Juventus was able to break the deadlock through a touch from Lloyd Kelly. Kelly's goal originated from the cleverness of Juventus players in varying the direction of their attacks to disrupt Inter's defense. On the other hand, praise is due to Kelly, who managed to score despite all shooting angles being nearly closed off by Inter's defenders.

Left behind, Inter increased the intensity of their attacks. They responded with a powerful shot from Hakan Calhanoglu from outside the penalty area. Like Kelly, Calhanoglu's goal was also created under less than ideal conditions as Juventus defenders had already crowded in front of the goal to block the shooting path. As if receiving a miracle, Calhanoglu's shot soared past the Juventus defenders without being able to be stopped by goalkeeper Yan Sommer.

The magical moments in this match did not stop at the goals from Kelly and Calhanoglu. Kenan Yildiz's goal, which doubled Juventus' lead, also had a similar nuance to Calhanoglu's, both originating from precise long-range shots with a touch of magic.

Once again, a wave of wonder emerged with the equalizing goal from Inter, contributed by Calhanoglu. Amidst the thick wall of Juventus' defense, Calhanoglu controlled the ball with his chest and then unleashed a powerful volley.

No matter how hard both teams tried to win the number of players in the penalty box, miracles happened in this match, evidenced by the constant ways in which goals were scored. For instance, Marcus Thuram's header was realized despite being closely guarded by several Juventus defenders. Similarly, Juventus's equalizing goal scored by Thuram's brother, Khephren Thuram, also came from a corner kick situation and while being marked by many opposing defenders.

The final miracle of this match came from the powerful long-range shot by Vasilije Adzic, which ultimately determined Juventus's victory with a score of 4-3. Previously, Adzic had never scored for the senior Juventus team. The moment for him to score arrived on the grand stage of the Derby d’Italia and through a long-range shooting scheme as well.

The number of goals scored in this match was disproportionate to the expected goals (xG) score. Juventus scored four goals with an xG score of just 0.68. Inter, who scored three goals, recorded an xG score of 0.96. The low xG score indicates that the goals in this match were scored under less-than-ideal or difficult circumstances. On the other hand, the goal slam actually demonstrated a bit of magic at work in this big match. This magic was also fueled by the long-standing rivalry between Tudor and Chivu.

For Juventus, the third consecutive victory continues their perfection at the start of the season. The additional three points place Juventus in second position in the standings with a total of nine points, just below Napoli, who leads on goal difference. Meanwhile, Inter remains in eleventh place.

Tudor experienced multiplied happiness as he successfully avenged his defeat against Chivu in their first meeting as coaches. During their active playing days, both coaches were involved in a fierce rivalry in the early 2000s.

"We won today, although the performance was not good. The emotions were varied. But considering the course of the match, it feels enjoyable. It was a truly crazy match," said Tudor. (AFP)