Teams: Genoa and Sampdoria
Capacity: 35,536
Built: 1911
City: Genoa
Also known as the Marassi, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris is one of the oldest in Italy. Built in 1911 the stadium was originally the property of Genoa and was the stage of their early titles that were won during Serie A’s primitive years.
The stadium today is a daunting place with the crowd close to the pitch giving the players the feeling that they are surrounded. One of the best examples of the atmosphere in the ground is evident during the Derby della Lanterna in which Sampdoria take on Genoa.
Arguably one of the most passionate derbies on the Peninsula it transforms the stadium into a cauldron. Marcello Lippi has claimed that this game is ‘the most special in Italy'. In these matches Genoa hold the Curva Nord with their Ultra groups such as the Fossa dei Griffoni whilst Sampdoria take the Curva Sud with their Ultra groups which include the Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni. The Derby will be missed next year after Sampdoria suffered a shock relegation.
The stadium had been updated for the 1990 World Cup and may be best remembered by British fans from the second round penalty shoot out between Ireland and Romania.
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