Juventus saw their Champions League hopes evaporate on a surreal night at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, where a 2-2 draw in the Derby della Mole—combined with wins for Roma and Como—consigned them to next season’s Europa League. The match, marred by violent clashes outside the stadium, began over an hour late and unfolded in a tense atmosphere, with the away sector left empty after supporters were evacuated for safety. Dusan Vlahovic’s first-half brace, possibly his final goals in black and white, had seemingly put Juve on course for a top-four finish, but a spirited Torino comeback and results elsewhere turned the evening into a bitter disappointment.
The game finally kicked off at 21:45 local time after chaotic scenes that left a 36-year-old Juventus fan in critical condition with severe head trauma, reportedly caused by a glass bottle thrown during pre-match disorder. The victim was rushed to hospital and underwent emergency neurosurgery, remaining in intensive care under close observation. Such violence overshadowed the sporting stakes of a match that had already been deemed high risk, forcing authorities to delay the start and eventually permit only Torino supporters in parts of the ground once order was restored.
When football did begin, it was Juventus who seized control. Vlahovic opened the scoring in the 24th minute, collecting a pass from Khéphren Thuram, turning sharply and firing a right-footed shot past Tommaso Paleari. The Serbian striker doubled the lead nine minutes into the second half, coolly converting a low ball from Francisco Conceição after a swift counter-attack, his composure in front of goal belying the turmoil that had preceded the fixture.
However, Torino refused to capitulate. Cesare Casadei halved the deficit on the hour mark, climbing to head home an inviting corner from Raúl Obrador and giving the hosts renewed belief. Pressure grew, and with six minutes remaining, Che Adams struck the equaliser, reacting quickest to a loose ball after a corner had caused panic in the Juve area. A deflection off Emil Holm wrong-footed Mattia Perin, sealing a 2-2 draw that felt more like a defeat for the visitors.
Simultaneously, the landscape of Italy’s European qualification shifted decisively. A win for Juventus would have seen them leapfrog Milan and snatch a Champions League place, but the rossoneri’s shock 1-0 home loss to Cagliari opened the door. Yet it was Roma and Como who stormed through, with the giallorossi edging Verona 1-0 thanks to a Donyell Malen strike and Como cruising past Cremonese 4-0. Those results meant Juve, despite their fightback, ended the season outside the top four, joined by Milan in the Europa League.
The club’s hierarchy maintained a composed front in the aftermath. Sporting director Fabio Comolli insisted to Sky, “Missing out on the Champions League doesn’t change our long-term project. We want to build a strong team with Luciano Spalletti.” The coach himself, speaking before the match, had demanded a reaction worthy of the derby’s importance, but his side’s second-half collapse and the defensive frailties that have plagued their campaign left them exposed.
For Vlahovic, the brace may carry added poignancy. With his contract expiring in 2026 and no renewal agreed, the 26-year-old’s future in Turin is uncertain, and these could be his final goals for the club. The striker, who has often divided opinion, showed his clinical instinct but was ultimately unable to drag his team over the line, leaving the pitch alongside Andrea Cambiaso as the final whistle confirmed a season of unfulfilled ambition.
The derby’s poisonous off-field backdrop will dominate the headlines in the coming days. The decision to proceed with the fixture, even after the violence, has drawn scrutiny, and the condition of the injured supporter remains a grave concern. Its shadow over the sport, particularly in a fixture as storied as the Derby della Mole, cannot be ignored.
Tactically, Torino manager Roberto D’Aversa praised his side’s resilience, stating, “These are the emotions football gives you. Today we had the chance to play with a twelfth man, our crowd, and I hope we gave them some satisfaction.” His opposite number Spalletti will now face questions over Juve’s inability to hold a lead in crucial moments—a pattern that has cost them dearly this term.
For the Bianconeri, the focus now shifts to the Europa League and an offseason of reflection. Missing Europe’s premier competition deals a financial blow and complicates transfer plans, though Comolli’s words suggest a patient rebuild under Spalletti remains the priority. The club must also address the growing unrest among a fanbase that has witnessed a trophy-less campaign and increasing tension around the team.
The draw encapsulated a season of what-ifs: flashes of quality undone by inconsistency and defensive lapses. As the squad took in the final whistle, the contrast with the jubilation in Rome and Como was stark—a reminder that in the cruel margins of Serie A, a single point can redefine an entire year.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.
