The Derby della Mole erupted into life in the 24th minute as Dusan Vlahovic fired Juventus into a 1-0 lead over city rivals Torino, but the football was overshadowed by violent scenes that forced an hour-long delay and raised urgent questions about safety in Italian football. The match, pivotal for Juventus’ fading Champions League ambitions, kicked off at 21:45 local time instead of the scheduled 20:45 after clashes between ultras left one Bianconeri supporter hospitalized with a head injury.
Juventus arrived at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino knowing that only a victory would sustain their push for a top-four finish in Serie A, with both Como and Roma threatening to leapfrog them in the standings. Head coach Luciano Spalletti had urged his side to deliver a performance befitting the occasion. “I expect a reaction worthy of what this week has been, worthy of the importance of this match,” Spalletti said. “It’s a derby, and that demands a response for such a crucial game.”
However, the pre-match narrative was quickly hijacked by events outside the stadium. Reports emerged of a 45-year-old Juventus fan being struck by a glass bottle and later a tear gas canister during confrontations between the two sets of ultras. The man, who was initially treated at the Mauriziano hospital before being transferred to the CTO for specialist care, was described as being in a stable condition but not life-threatening. The news prompted Juventus supporters in the away section to vacate their seats and gather outside, while some pleaded with the players not to take the field. Captain Manuel Locatelli, along with several teammates, went to the curva to speak with fans, who chanted “Suspend the match!” amid a tense standoff.
Alessandro Comolli, Juventus’ managing director, addressed the situation on Sky Sport: “It’s not a confrontation between the fans and Locatelli. The problem is that one of our fans is in hospital and isn’t well, and our fans aren’t happy. They’re telling him maybe not to play. Is the match at risk? No, no. After the game I’ll go to the hospital to speak with the fan.” Despite the reassurances, the Lega Serie A eventually postponed kick-off to 21:45, and the match eventually got underway without Juventus supporters present, as they abandoned the away section entirely.
When football finally resumed, it did so under a cloud of tension and with depleted squads. Juventus were without injured playmaker Kenan Yildiz, while defender Gleison Bremer served a suspension. Spalletti lined up with Perin in goal; a back four of Kalulu, Gatti, Kelly, and Cambiaso; Locatelli and Thuram in midfield; and an attack featuring Conceição, McKennie, Boga behind Vlahovic. Torino, under Roberto D’Aversa, had their own selection issues but fielded a competitive XI including Zapata and Simeone up front.
The early exchanges were cagey, with Torino’s Vlasic testing the Juventus defense from distance and the visitors threatening on the counter. Then, in the 24th minute, Khephren Thuram drove forward from midfield, slipped a pass into Vlahovic, who turned sharply and rifled a right-footed shot into the net, sending the empty away stand into a distant roar from the concourses outside. It was a clinical finish that gave Juventus a precious lead.
As the half progressed, other results began to filter through, adding layers of complexity to the Champions League puzzle. Cagliari took a shock lead at Milan through Rodriguez, meaning as things stood, the Rossoneri would drop out of the top four. Roma went ahead against Verona via Malen’s rebound after a saved penalty, and Como doubled their advantage at Cremonese. These outcomes meant that if Juventus could hold onto their lead, they would climb into the Champions League places at the expense of Milan, who were losing, but the situation remained fluid with 45 minutes still to play.
At the interval, Juventus led 1-0 knowing the job was only half done. The three points would not guarantee a top-four finish—that depended on results elsewhere—but it would give them a fighting chance. Spalletti’s side had shown resilience amid the chaos, but the second half would test their composure and physical condition after the disrupted warm-up and emotional turmoil.
Torino, on the other hand, had little to lose but pride. D’Aversa had spoken passionately before the game: “It’s not a match like the others. I’ve emphasized that we’ve shown we’re different from before—now there are more compliments than criticism. We want to make the fans proud of us; everything that happened before this evening can be erased.” The Granata were looking to spoil the party and had moments of threat, but Juventus’ defensive organization held firm.
The deep scars of this derby, however, extend beyond the scoreboard. The decision to schedule such a high-risk fixture in the evening—despite past instances of violence prompting daytime kick-offs—has come under renewed scrutiny. The inadequate stewarding around the away section, acknowledged by security personnel, left the match hanging by a thread. The possibility of a suspension or abandonment had been real, and only hurried negotiations ensured the game went ahead, albeit in a surreal atmosphere with one entire curve silent and empty.
As the teams prepared for the second half, the focus shifted back to football, but the night’s events served as a stark reminder of the volatile undercurrents in Italian ultras culture. For Juventus, the immediate mission was clear: secure the win, wait for results from Milan and elsewhere, and hope that their Champions League dream could survive a night that had already delivered too much drama. Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
