Serie A

SPALLETTI AND DERBIES

From Empoli to Juventus, Luciano Spalletti’s career has featured several great derbies that have defined his path in Serie A

Luciano Spalletti and derbies – a pairing that spans decades of Serie A, from Empoli to Turin. The Tuscan coach, now at the helm of Juventus, has lived through some of Italian football’s fiercest rivalries and is now preparing for his first all-Turin showdown, against a Torino side that hasn’t won at the Stadium for 34 years. Numbers and memories chart a managerial journey shaped by the league’s most iconic derbies.

The Beginning in Empoli: You Never Forget Your First

Spalletti’s first local derby in Serie A came in the 1997/98 season, when his Empoli stunned Fiorentina 2–1 at the Franchi on Matchday 4. Batistuta opened the scoring for the hosts, but Tonetto and Martusciello turned it around. The return fixture ended 1–1, and both results proved decisive in securing Empoli’s second-ever top-flight survival.

The Derby della Capitale: Thirteen Fiery Meetings

In Rome, Spalletti fully immersed himself in the passion and pressure of the Derby della Capitale – a rivalry that divides and unites the city in equal measure. Across two spells in charge of Roma, he faced Lazio 13 times, recording 6 wins, 5 defeats and 2 draws. His first derby, on 23 October 2005, finished 1–1 with goals from captains Totti and Rocchi. That spark lit the flame for that Roma team, who found momentum with three consecutive wins in the following weeks, beginning with victory over Inter at San Siro. The return fixture ended 2–0 to Roma, with goals from Taddei and Aquilani, while his first derby of the second spell was a statement win: 4–1 over Pioli’s Lazio. In total, Spalletti’s Roma scored 21 goals and conceded 21 in these clashes, suffering the sting of a Coppa Italia semi-final exit but always imprinting his teams with identity, courage and purpose in matches charged with emotion.

Milan Memories: The Derby della Madonnina

His move to Inter plunged Spalletti into another historic rivalry: the Derby della Madonnina. He oversaw five official meetings across Serie A and the Coppa Italia, winning three, drawing one and losing one. His debut derby remains a classic: a thrilling 3–2 victory sealed by a Mauro Icardi hat-trick, emblematic of both the brilliance and volatility of that Inter era. The last came on Matchday 28 of the 2018/19 season, again ending 3–2, this time with AC Milan at home. The only defeat came in the Coppa Italia quarter-final through a Cutrone goal. Overall, Spalletti’s Inter scored seven and conceded five across those derbies – a positive record overall.

Now Turin: The Derby della Mole Awaits

After Rome and Milan, Spalletti now faces another emotionally charged chapter – his first Derby della Mole as Juventus coach. The numbers favour him: Torino haven’t beaten Juventus away in 34 years, while Spalletti’s personal record against the Granata stands at 14 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses. His first home match in the league continues a positive recent trend – both Motta and Tudor began with home victories (against Como and Genoa, respectively). The goal is clear: to build on the winning start in Cremona and cement the identity of this Juventus side, rediscovering pride and purpose.

Baroni’s Torino: Underdogs with a Dream

Torino, meanwhile, will be without head coach Marco Baroni on the touchline due to suspension, leaving assistant Giovanni Colucci in charge. For Baroni, it would have been just his second city derby in Serie A, after facing Lazio twice last season, which ended with a 2–0 defeat away and a 1–1 draw at home. It’s a rare opportunity for the Granata coach, still seeking his first derby win as a Serie A manager, and hoping to deliver a result the Torino faithful have awaited for generations. Emotions will run high: against a Juventus still finding its rhythm, this Derby della Mole promises intensity, pride, and that unmistakable tension only a derby can conjure. (Photo Getty Images)