'We imitated that celebration for days': 10 Roma fans on their favourite games against Juve

Derbies aside, Roma v Juventus is the mother of all games – one of the most important matches of the season for all Giallorossi fans.

So ahead of Sunday’s game, we asked ten Roma supporters to give us their fondest memory of a game against the Bianconeri...

Anselmo Luciani: the 3-0 win in 1985-86

After our 2001 Scudetto win, Anselmo Luciani left Rome to work for a chain of souvenir shops in Dublin. He’s a Roma fan thanks to his father Valentino.

“We lost my first Roma v Juventus game 3-0. I was young and tickets were hard to come by, but my dad managed to get his hands on some. I have fond memories of the game, despite the defeat. But I’ll never forget our 3-0 win over the Bianconeri in the 1985-86 season, when we were chasing them in the title race. The tifo was incredible – the whole stadium was decked out in red and yellow. It was the perfect game.”

Claudio Bini: the 3-0 win in 1985-86

Claudio is 62 years old and has been a Roma fan for 62 years. He shared his love for the Giallorossi with his son Alessandro, who tragically passed away while playing football on 2 February 2008.

“16 March 1986 was an amazing feeling, even if that 3-0 win over Juventus didn’t mean anything in the end. We just missed out on the Scudetto. I remember the Olimpico being completely sold out and there being an amazing tifo.

"I’m fond of that Roma v Juve game because the Bianconeri were our big rivals during that period, but there’s also another match I’ll never forget and that was in the 1982-83 season, when we took the lead before Juventus scored through Michel Platini and Sergio Brio. We lost, but you don’t mind losing to Juventus when you end up as champions.”

Roberto Benedetti: the 2-1 win in 1992-93

A bike-loving mechanic, Roberto Benedetti (44) shares his memories of a Roma v Juventus match on 28 February 1993.

“It was my first big game. I was 17. I was worried that we’d lose and sure enough they took the lead in the first half through Roberto Baggio. I was really down in the dumps at half time, but then Thomas Hassler and Giuseppe Giannini turned it around. It wasn’t the best Roma side, but they had real spirit. I’ll never forget it.”

Federico Ligotti: the 3-0 win in 1994-95

For Federico Ligotti, a 34-year-old who works for the Rome city council, the ultimate Roma v Juventus match took place on 28 May 1995: a 3-0 win secured courtesy of goals from Aldair, Daniel Fonseca and Abel Balbo.

“Under Carletto Mazzone, Roma had lost 3-0 in the reverse fixture at the Delle Alpi, when Aldair was famously shoulder-barged by the linesman, resulting in the first goal and triggering the defeat for Roma. So when 28 May rolled around, it was time for revenge.

"I listened to the game with my best friend Alessandro, a massive Juventus fan who later served as my best man, walking along the streets of Nuovo Salario, where we grew up. Roma made short work of Juventus, winning 3-0. This was how we lined up: Cervone, Lanna, Aldair, Petruzzi, Carboni, Statuto, Piacentini, Giannini, Moriero, Balbo, Fonseca. I could recite it from memory for years afterwards.”

Luca Battazzi: the 2-0 win in 1998-99

There’s not a shadow of a doubt in the mind of Luca, 40, when it comes to naming his favourite Roma v Juventus match.

“One of the Roma v Juventus matches I remember most fondly took place on 15 November 1998. It was during Zdenek Zeman’s first spell in charge of the club – that team was beloved by all fans.

"Before the game, Juventus were second in the league, three points ahead of us. They had several chances in the first half, but then Francesco Totti caught the Juventus defence off guard, sending a ball into the box for Paulo Sergio to volley home. Goal! After the break, Vincent Candela served up one of his best-ever goals – starting on the left side of the penalty box, he dribbled past a couple of defenders, took a few more strides forward and finally smashed the ball home just under the crossbar for 2-0. What a feeling! I was 18 and my passion for Roma was pulsing in my chest.

"The next day, everyone at school was wearing Roma scarves. Is there anything better?”

Simone De Marinis: the 2-0 win in 1998-99

Simone De Marinis, 39, is a shopkeeper and – more importantly – a Roma fan. His favourite Roma v Juventus is that 2-0 win featuring goals from Paulo Sergio and Candela, in Zeman’s second year in charge.

“It was my first Roma v Juventus game – well, my first half Roma v Juve game. Back then, at a certain point in the second half – 60 minutes, I think – they opened the gates and anyone could go into the stadium, regardless of whether or not you had a ticket.

"I was with my cousin and a friend who was a Juventus fan and who seemed to enjoy it even more than us, to the extent that he couldn’t stop imitating Paulo Sergio’s celebration for days after [he had pretended to be flying a plane]. We missed it live, but seeing Candela’s goal, which wrapped up the win, made up for it.”

Massimo Nibi: the 4-0 win in 2003-04

Massimo, 40, works for a multinational.

"One Roma v Juve match that will go down in history was the one that took place on 8 February 2004. The Olimpico was packed to the rafters, as it is for the biggest occasions. The game had everything – a penalty for Roma (scored), one for Juve (saved), Francesco Totti hitting the crossbar so hard it’s probably still shaking, some champagne football and, most importantly, a 4-0 win.

"I remember the Olimpico being in ecstasy, the Sud chanting on and on, our players celebrating on the pitch and our eternal rivals taking a beating. Totti’s ‘4 and home’ to Igor Tudor is unforgettable too, just like the game itself.”

Alessandro Memmi: the 4-0 win in 2003-04

As well as his passion for cars (he works in a big dealership), Alessandro Memmi is a huge Roma fan. He’s seen many matches against Juventus over the last 40 years.

“I’ve seen lots of these games and many defeats. But the times we’ve beaten the Bianconeri have been amazing.

"I remember goals from Giuseppe Giannini and Thomas Hassler, from Abel Balbo and Roberto Muzzi, from Paulo Sergio and Vincent Candela… then there was that Francesco Totti goal in front of the Curva Sud. That shot was powered by all the anger the fans felt after many bad results against Juve over the decades.

"My favourite Roma v Juventus game was the match on 8 February 2004, though. They had Antonio Conte, Pavel Nedved, Igor Tudor, Paolo Montero and Marcello Lippi on the bench, but we brushed them aside with a 4-0 win.”

Sara Cianfarani: the 4-0 win in 2003-04

Sara Cianfarani, a 39-year-old office worker, will never forget 8 February 2004.

“I was at the stadium that night. Unfortunately I was in one of the main stands, when usually I watched matches from the Curva. I remember I was with my cousin, a huge Juventus fan who was teasing me the day before the game. ‘You think you can beat the best team in Italy?’ he would say.

"After every goal, I saw his face fall and then at the end of the game, I said: ‘Do I think we can win? Yeah I do!’ When I see him now, I still say ‘4 and home!’ like Totti did to Tudor.”

Nicole Ferri: the 3-1 win in 2016-17

Nicole is just 22 years old, but she’s already been able to enjoy a great Roma win over Juventus.

“My favourite Roma v Juventus match was in the 2016-17 season, in Week 36. They needed points to clinch the title, but we needed a win to qualify for the Champions League group stages. Juventus took the lead through Mario Lemina, and at that point we all started thinking it was going to go the way it always did.

"But Daniele De Rossi managed to equalise, then we took the lead after Stephan El Shaarawy squeezed one in at the far post, before Radja Nainggolan added a third and celebrating by aiming an air slap at the away fans. After years of Juventus winning at the Olimpico, Roma had finally got a win and secured three vital points to qualify directly for the Champions League. It was an unforgettable game.”