Game 1, Serie A
Sunday, September 4, 1994
Stadio San Nicola, Bari
Bari Lazio 0-1
First league match with Zeman and first win thanks to Signori
Lazio had already played one official game, the first leg of the first round of Coppa Italia beating Modena 5-0. Today’s match was the first game of the campionato.
The match
First game of the season and there was a lot of curiosity to see how the Lazio players had adapted to Zdenek Zeman’s classic 4-3-3, The Biancocelesti were without Aron Winter and Alen Boksic.
In the 7th minute Beppe Signori gave a perfect assist to Pierluigi Casiraghi who only had to tap in the ball but Italy’s centre forward fumbled. Bari reacted two minutes later, when Gérson Capaça had a shot at goal but Luca Marchegiani parried into corner. In the 12th minute the Brazilian was again protagonist with a pass to Miguel Angel Guerrero who dribbled past Paolo Negro and Roberto Cravero but again Marchegiani saved.
In the 22nd minute Lazio scored. Roberto Rambaudi dribbled past Roberto Mangone on the right and sent in a perfect ball that Signori promptly placed in the back of the net.
Two minutes later Igor Protti from the right crossed into the box but Francesco Pedone was unable to make any contact. The Biancocelesti at this point tried to put the game to sleep and it took Bari another 13 minutes to be dangerous again with Guerrero but Marchegiani was ready. At the end of the half Beppe Favalli was forced to stop Gerson with a brutal foul and was sent off. Zeman took off Rambaudi and threw in another defender, Cristiano Bergodi.
In the second half Bari put pressure on the Lazio defence but were not dangerous until the 70th minute. Pedone to Guerrero, who feigned moving towards the byline but instead cut into the centre and found himself in front of the Lazio goalkeeper. His shot however went wide.
Sandro Tovalieri got a second yellow card in the 75th minute and the Bari pressure progressively relented.
Good first win for Lazio, in difficult circumstances. Nevertheless there was still a lot of work to do to find the right "Zemanesque" movements.
Who played for Bari
Fontana, Montanari, Mangone (55' Tovalieri), Bigica, Amoruso, Ricci, Alessio, Gerson (67' Barone), Guerrero, Pedone, Protti.
Substitutes: Alberga, Tangorra, Gautieri.
Manager: Materazzi.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Favalli, Di Matteo, Chamot, Cravero, Rambaudi (46’ Bergodi), Fuser (67’ Bacci), Casiraghi, Venturin, Signori.
Substitutes: Orsi, Doll, Della Morte
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Collina
Goal: 22’ Signori
Sources
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