Inter boasts an impeccable record in big matches played in the first three matchdays against historic rivals. Juventus, on the other hand, has a less glorious history, including a very old and heavy defeat that its fans hope to erase.
It`s an exceptional start to the Serie A season, with the “Derby d`Italia” between Juventus and Inter taking place right away. It`s uncommon to witness such a significant clash in the very early stages of the season, even before fans have had a chance to acclimate to the rhythm of the new championship and with summer still fresh in memory. However, events like this are not an absolute novelty. Let`s explore the history of major Serie A clashes played in the first three matchdays, when the season has just begun.
Juventus` Difficult Precedent and the Resounding 0-4 from 1939
Since 1929, the year the single-group format was introduced in Serie A, an analysis of confrontations between Italy`s three “giants” (Milan, Inter, and Juventus) within the first three matchdays reveals interesting data. Juventus has recorded 3 wins and 5 draws, but also a single defeat. This loss, a heavy 4-0 suffered in a fiery San Siro on September 17, 1939, against Tony Cargnelli`s Inter, is the only blemish on their record. Since that event, Juve has had only one other opportunity to challenge Inter within the first three league matchdays, in 2013, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw with goals from Vidal and Icardi.
Inter: An Invincible Record in the Opening Matchdays
The Nerazzurri present a significantly more favorable historical picture. Compared to their Bianconeri rivals, Inter boasts a reassuring record: 4 wins and 2 draws, and most notably, no defeats in this type of early season encounter. Three of these successes come from Milan derbies (in 1938, 1940, and 2015), while the fourth is precisely the memorable 4-0 inflicted on Caligaris` Juventus in 1939. It will be interesting to observe how Juventus, playing at home in two days, will seek to avenge the memory of that historic defeat to secure a victory.
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