Angelo Di Livio believes Fiorentina–Juventus means more to Viola fans than a derby would.
The two sides meet at Artemio Franchi on Friday night, with the Fiorentina famously harbouring a great antipathy toward the Bianconeri.
The origins of the rivalry date back to the 1981-82 season, when Juve pipped the Viola to the Scudetto.
The bad feeling between the clubs was exacerbated when Roberto Baggio left Florence to join the Old Lady in 1990.
Angelo Di Livio believes Fiorentina-Juventus means more to Viola fans than a derby would.
The two sides meet at Artemio Franchi on Friday night, with the Fiorentina famously harbouring a great antipathy toward the Bianconeri.
The origins of the rivalry date back to the 1981-82 season, when Juve pipped the Viola to the Scudetto.
The bad feeling between the clubs was exacerbated when Roberto Baggio left Florence to join the Old Lady in 1990.
To this day, players signed for the Tuscan side from their Turin rivals are often subjected to 'de-hunchbacking' rituals, a nod to Juventus’ nickname of the ‘Gobbi’ or ‘hunchbacks’, as hunchbacks are seen as lucky in Italy.
Di Livio has played on both sides of the divide, turning out for Juventus between 1993 and 1999 before spending the next six years in Florence, and is well-placed to judge the intensity of the rivalry.
“In Florence there’s a particular atmosphere ahead of this one, you can feel it in the air for two weeks prior,” the former midfielder explained to La Repubblica.
“In Florence it’s a game that means more than a derby. The fans care very much, and the expectation is different than other games.
“In Turin there’s maybe less pressure because the team is used to playing these sorts of games, but I can tell you it certainly means a lot to the Bianconeri fans at least.
“With Juventus when we played at Artemio Franchi you could feel so much energy against you from the Fiorentina crowd.
“The stadium becomes a cauldron, and it’s difficult to play in those conditions. It’s like the atmosphere of the derby between Roma and Lazio, you have to be alert.
“Just look at last season [a 4-2 Fiorentina win]. Juventus were winning without any problems, then the crowd pushed Fiorentina forward and they turned it around dramatically.
“These matches are actually easier for Coaches to prepare for, because from day one there’s the right mood in the camp.
“Everyone wants to play in a match like this.”
Despite his Juventus past, Di Livio inists that he wasn’t involved in any pre-game habits, and backs the Viola to raise their game for the visit of the champions.
“Before matches like this I didn’t do any special rituals. But you could feel it in the air in Florence, during the week the tension would rise and you knew you had to do your best to get a good result.
“Fiorentina are struggling a little bit in the League at the moment, but in these games they have the quality to do well.
“Juve are always strong, especially domestically, but the Viola have a team that plays some of the best football in Italy.
“[Fiorentina Coach Vincenzo] Montella has had to come up with something new this season because of injuries, but I’m sure they have a bright future ahead of them.
“I’m sure they will fight for Europe.”