Torino take heart from history

Saturday's Turin derby looks like one of the most unbalanced ever. The two teams are currently separated by 38 points, with Juventus FC leading Serie A and Torino Calcio struggling at the bottom of the table, having lost 4-0 to their rivals in November.

Respectable record
However, the previous 160 'Derby della Moles' give Juve ample reason to avoid complacency. The Bianconeri have won 62 and Torino 51 - more than respectable figures for the Granata considering the domestic dominance of 26-times champions Juventus.

Legendary team
Torino have not always played second fiddle in the city. In the 1940s the legendary 'Il Grande Torino' won five Italian titles, and would surely have continued their dominance were it not for the plane crash that killed many members of that great team on 4 May 1949.

Long decline
Things were never the same for Torino, champions just once again in 1975/76. Lacking wealthy patrons to match Juve's Agnelli family, their financial situation has been precarious in recent years. In 1991/92, with players including Gianluigi Lentini and Enzo Scifo they reached the UEFA Cup final, losing against AFC Ajax, but one year later president Gianmauro Borsano was involved in legal problems regarding the transfer of Lentini to AC Milan and left.

Difficult times
The club was only saved from bankruptcy in 1994 by new president Gianmarco Calleri. They thrived briefly, but in 1995/96 were relegated from Serie A, prompting Calleri's departure. A top-flight return in 1999 lasted a season, and although things are brighter under current owners Francesco Cimminelli and Attilio Romero, the on-pitch situation remains critical.

Derby drama
Still, Torino can always can raise their game for the derby, as they proved on their last return to Serie A in 2001/02. When the first meeting between the two sides came around Torino were struggling and Juve, riding high, went 3-0 up inside 25 minutes. However, after the break the legendary 'Cuore Granata' - Torino heart - came to the fore as Christian Lucarelli, Marco Ferrante and Riccardo Maspero scored to earn an unlikely draw. The second meeting was similarly entertaining, Torino coming from behind to lead 2-1, only to be denied in the final minute by Enzo Maresca's equaliser.

Thrilling encounter
Those encounters recalled Toro's 1982/83 meeting with a glittering Juventus team featuring Michel Platini, Zbigniew Boniek and Paolo Rossi. The reigning champions, Juve led with 20 minutes left through goals from Rossi and Platini. However, within five minutes, Torino were 3-2 up as Giuseppe Dossena, Alessandro Bonesso and Fortunato Torrisi struck in quick succession - and six weeks later, AS Roma had wrested the title from Juventus.

Class against courage
This is the spirit of the Turin derby - class against courage. Renato Zaccarelli, who replaced Renzo Ulivieri to become the third coach of Torino's troubled season, is hoping his side's passion will show on Sunday. "I do not need to motivate my players before a match against Juve because they are already extremely motivated," Zaccarelli said. "We must play aggressive football and keep focused from the first to the last minute. Our fantastic supporters will help us."

'More than just three points'
Juventus coach Marcello Lippi will be able to count an almost full squad, with only Marcelo Salas unavailable with a knee injury. Nonetheless, Torino striker Marco Ferrante, who scored in last year's 2-2 draw, hopes to repeat his famous 'bull horn' celebration in front of the Juventus supporters. "This match is much more than just three points for us," he warns. "Our fans have been disappointed for too long now. Now we have the chance to repay them."