‘Rimonta’ literally means recovery in Italian and it is word used in the Italian football vernacular for comebacks.
Inter made an unlikely ‘rimonta’ or comeback against Juventus in the Coppa Italia in early March when they were trailing 3-0 after a defeat in the first leg of the semi-finals but they overturned the deficit and won 3-0 in the second leg. Regulation time as well as extra time failed to separate the teams so the tie went to penalties and Juve eventually triumphed.
In light of the Nerazzurri’s comeback, forzaitalianfootball.com has compiled a list containing 10 of the best comebacks in Italian football history which features matches from the Serie A and the Coppa Italia.
Here are the best 10 comebacks in calcio and enjoy the countdown.
10. Juventus v Hellas Verona (1982-83 Coppa Italia Final, Juve win 3-2 on aggregate)
We begin out Top 10 Greatest Comebacks with the 1983 Coppa Italia Final between Juventus and Hellas Verona.
La Vecchia Signora were a force in world football in the 1980s with Italian stars such as Paolo Rossi and Dino Zoff as well as foreign talents like France’s Michel Platini and Poland’s Zbigniew Boniek.
The 1982-83 season was one of underachievement for Giovanni Trapattoni’s side, losing the Scudetto to Roma and the European Cup to Hamburg but the Coppa Italia gave them a chance to restore some pride.
The Gialloblu, who had been promoted from Serie B, were the surprise of that campaign after finishing fourth in Serie A and they played against the Bianconeri in the cup final.
In the first leg in Verona on June 19, the home side sealed a 2-0 victory thanks to goals from Domenico Penzo and Domenico Volpati but three days later, Juventus showed their supremacy in Turin.
An early goal from Rossi gave Trapattoni’s side some hope and then Michel Platini netted with less than 10 minutes remaining.
The second leg went into extra time and Platini scored the winner with a minute remaining to give Juve their seventh Coppa Italia title.
Verona reached the final again in the following season and were defeated by Roma but in 1984-85 they surprised many people by winning the Serie A title.
Source: forzaitalianfootball.com