Ten things to know about Juventus

Ten things to know about Juventus

The lowdown on FC Barcelona's opponent in the Champions League Final in Berlin

Formed by students. The Juventus Football Club was set up in 1897 by a group of students from the Liceo Massimo D’Azeglio, which is the origin of the club’s Latin name.

La Vecchia Signora. Juventus are known as the ‘Old Lady of Turin’. It is generally believed that the term dates back to the 1920s when the Agnelli (FIAT) family took mover the club. As the owners were known as the vecchios signores, or ‘old gentlemen’, the club became known as the ‘old lady’.

Rivalry with Torino and lnter. Juventus FC has a local rivalry with Torino FC, known as the derby della mole, after the famous Mole Antonelliana building in the city. But the equivalent of the clásico in Italy is the game between Juve and Inter Milan, who along with AC Milan are the most widely supported clubs in the country.

Most fans in Italy. The club is also known as La Fidanzata d'Italia, or ‘Italy’s girlfriend’ because they have more supporters than any other team.

Tragic first European Cup. Juventus became continental champions for the first time in 1985 by beating Liverpool 1-0 in a final better remembered for awful reasons. At the Heysel Stadium in Brussels, 39 supporters were killed in a human avalanche that caused a wall to collapse shortly before kick-off. The game went ahead despite the tragedy and Juventus won by a penalty converted by three-time Ballon d’Or winner Michel Platini.

Only other title in 1996. Juve won the trophy for the second and last time in 1996, when they beat Ajax on penalties at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. Juventus have lost more finals than any other club, a total of five (losing to Ajax, SC Hamburg, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and AC Milan).

First treble winners. Only five teams have won what were once the three different European titles (European Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA/Fairs Cup). The others are Bayern, Ajax, Barça and Chelsea. Of these, Juve achieved the treble first.

Best Italian club of 20th century. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) deemed Juventus the best Italian club of the previous century. They were followed by AC Milan in second and Inter in third.

Scandal and demotion to Serie B. In the darkest period in club history, in 2005 and 2006, a scandal emerged regarding refereeing fraud that involved a number of major clubs. Juventus suffered more than any. Their two championship titles were declared null and void and they were demoted to Serie B with a 9-point penalty. This is the only time they have been relegated out of the top flight.

Four consecutive scuddettos. Juventus rose from the ashes and returned to Serie A in 2007. They have won the Italian league title every year since 2011/12 with an experienced, compact and talented squad.

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