Lanna hands Lazio victory
A senseless handball by Lanna gives Lazio a vital win
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The season so far
The transfer window started with a bang: Beppe Signori sold to Parma for 25 billion lire plus Dino Baggio and Pippo Inzaghi.
Lazio needed money so when the Parma President Calisto Tanzi, looking to strengthen his team, made the offer, Sergio Cragnotti saw no reason to say no. The rest of the world did however say no. Firstly, the fans who organised a demonstration. 5,000 people took to the streets to show their discontent over the deal. Secondly, the banks said that they would cover if the deal did not go through. Thirdly President Dino Zoff underlined all the technical problems that would have occurred in case the deal went through. Lastly, Beppe Signori said no. So Signori stayed.
In hindsight, Cragnotti was probably right.
As a consequence, in the summer of 1995 Lazio did not sign anybody of particular interest with the exception of future legend Guerino Gottardi. On the other hand, many players waved goodbye: Roberto Cravero, Roberto Bacci, Mauro Bonomi and Paul Gascoigne, all players “chosen” during Dino Zoff’s stint as manager.
The season started very well with two consecutive wins. The highlight of the early part was the 4-0 crushing of Juventus at the end of October. It was a demonstration of Lazio’s full potential and of just how lethal manager’s Zdenek Zeman’s teams could be. Two days later came the other side of the coin: Lazio were eliminated in the UEFA Cup by Olympique Lyonnais. This was an example of how the season panned out. Spectacular games (6-3 against Sampdoria for example) and dismal performances like losing to Vicenza and Piacenza. Lazio fans were used to it by now, but the question was: will we ever win anything with this inconsistency?
Lazio closed the first half of the season fifth on 26 points. After a bad loss at Piacenza, the Biancocelesti had won two and drawn one. The most recent game had been a 1-1 draw at Udine. This however was the derby, a game which stands apart from tables, form, moods, it is THE game.
Roma, under Carlo Mazzone, were having a similar season to Lazio, up and down. The Giallorossi were 6th, on 31 points, two behind Lazio. Roma had lost two out of the last three league games but their most recent had been a 3-0 home win against Cremonese. It was a chance for them to leapfrog hated rivals Lazio in the table.
The first derby had been a 0-0 draw but hopefully the Romans would see some goals today. It was a game for Roman supremacy but with an eye on Europe.
The match: Sunday, February 18, 1996, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A 70,000 crowd on a fresh, humid night in Rome for the 134th "derby della capitale".
Lazio were missing defenders Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Negro. Roma had no absences but chose Massimo Cappioli over Francesco Moriero in midfield and Marco Delvecchio over Daniel Fonseca up front.
The first two shots at goal came from freekicks and were both by Abel Balbo. The second was the more dangerous but Luca Marchegiani was well positioned and blocked. Roma then had a feeble penalty appeal for a Pierluigi Casiraghi push on Delvecchio but there was clearly nothing in it.
Lazio came into the game with a couple of corners and then Casiraghi was tripped by Marco Lanna while cutting in towards the area for the first yellow card of the game. The second came a few minutes later when Cristiano Bergodi was intentionally hacked down by a late Francesco Totti trip in midfield, starting some pushing and shoving between the players.
Roma attacked more, in the 20th minute from an Amedeo Carboni cross, Delvecchio connected well with a scissor kick but it was too central. In the 36th minute the Lazio keeper had to race off his line to anticipate Totti.
Some bad news for Lazio came in the 39th minute when Alen Boksic was forced off with a muscular problem and replaced by Roberto Rambaudi.
At the end of the half Lazio stirred , first with a Casiraghi left footed volley over the bar and then the Lazio striker was too slow to react to a loose ball just outside the area and caught up and dispossessed by Fabio Petruzzi who cleared for a corner. Halftime Lazio 0 Roma 0.
The Giallorossi had been slightly on top and more positive but Lazio had shown some signs of life towards the end.
There were no changes for the second half. In the 52nd minute Lanna risked an own goal when clashing with keeper Giovanni Cervone and Casiraghi, he headed the ball back towards an empty goal only for it to be intercepted near the goalline by Aldair.
The goal scoring chances were few and far between. In the 63rd minute Roma had a potential chance when Totti squared to Balbo in front of goal but Marchegiani stormed off his line and diving managed to clear with feet. A few minutes later the Lazio keeper almost gave a goal away when he clumsily dropped a catch from a corner, the ball bounced out to Cappioli at the edge of the box but he fired wide.
In the 70th minute Bergodi was forced off injured, after battling with Totti all evening, and was replaced by 18 year-old Alessandro Grandoni for his debut.
In the 73rd minute Beppe Signori was booked for a lunging and unnecessary late tackle on Aldair.
Between the 75th and the 78th minute Mazzone made two changes. First Fonseca came on for Delvecchio and then Moriero for Cappioli.
Meanwhile in the 76th minute Lazio finally tested Cervone. On a cross by Diego Fuser, from the right of midfield into the left side of the area, Casiraghi controlled, cut inside beating Aldair and let off a low right foot towards the near post but Cervone dived low to his right and blocked.
In the 83rd minute Totti went off replaced by Gigi Di Biagio. In the same minute Lazio went close again when Signori fired in a powerful freekick from right of the area but Cervone saved into corner on the near post.
Then from the corner came the key episode of the entire game. On Signori's floating high corner, Lanna inexplicably jumped with his hand above his head and clearly touched the ball. Completely out of the blue, senseless but an indisputable penalty.
Signori stepped up and with his customary no run- up style put the ball one way and sent Cervone the other. Lazio 1 Roma 0. A sudden and unexpected twist to the derby.
Another twist came imnediately after as, before Roma could even kick off, Signori was shown a red card. In the euphoria, and forgetting his previous booking, he had run to celebrate under the Curva Nord and so receiving a second yellow.
Roma predictably attacked en masse until the end. Their only real threat however was a low, long range Statuto shot which went just wide to Marchegiani's left.
In the 90th minute Lazio made a substitution to break the Giallorossi's rythm, bringing on Marco Piovanelli for Beppe Favalli. Then after a tense five minutes of injury time the referee whistled the end. Lazio 1 Roma 0.
An unspectacular derby, but that was nothing new, with a late coup de théâtre. For Lazio it felt as if Christmas had come early. To be "handed" the victory on a plate by your most bitter rivals in the most important game of the year was unbelievable. As most fans agree these are the most satisfying victories in derbies, late, not particularly deserved and leaving the opponents shellshocked and bitter.
No need to add that Lanna is still remembered fondly by Lazio fans.
This derby win kept Lazio in 5th place but the Biancocelesti were now five points above Roma. The table was important but for now the derby win gave Lazio bragging rights over the "cugini" for at least another eight months, no small detail in Rome.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Gottardi, Favalli (90' Piovanelli), Di Matteo, Bergodi (70' Grandoni), Chamot, Signori, Fuser, Casiraghi, Winter, Boksic (39' Rambaudi)
Manager: Zeman
Who played for Roma
Cervone, Aldair, Carboni, Statuto, Lanna, Petruzzi, Cappioli (78' Moriero), Thern, Balbo, Totti (83' Di Biagio), Delvecchio (75' Fonseca)
Substitutes: Sterchele, Annoni
Manager: Mazzone
Referee: Nicchi
Goals: 84' Signori (pen)
Red card : 85' Signori
What happened next
The Biancocelesti inconsistent year continued until March 24 when they lost to Cremonese. At that point the season seemed over and was very disappointing. But the players found the strength to change things around and from then on Lazio never lost again. In the last eight games the Biancocelesti won six and drew two and managed not only a UEFA Cup qualification for the next season but also a good third place. Just like last year, the team was able to turn things around with a great finale and reach an important objective.
Signori was top scorer in Serie A, together with Igor Protti, for the third time in four years. He scored a total of 26 goals that season. Paolo Negro and Diego Fuser had the most appearances (39).
What happened in Serie A 1995-96
The previous season had seen Juventus win the scudetto with a 10-point lead over Lazio and Parma. At the end of the first half Juve were ahead but Parma were just a point behind and Lazio at -4. The Bianconeri had also won the Coppa Italia but had lost the final of the UEFA Cup to Parma. Milan had reached the final of the Champions League but had lost to Ajax. It was the first season with three points for the win.
The summer transfer window saw Milan protagonist with the signings of Roberto Baggio and George Weah. Juventus had bought Vladimir Jugovic, Inter Roberto Carlos, Sampdoria Clarence Seedorf and Parma Fabio Cannavaro and Hristo Stoichkov.
Juve were obviously favourites but Milan at least on paper looked a lot more dangerous.
August & September
Serie A kicked off at the end of August and Milan won all of the first four games including a win away to Roma. Napoli beat Inter and were second with Juventus. Inter sacked Ottavio Bianchi after a terrible start and gave the team to caretaker manager Luis Suarez.
In the first two games of the Champions League group stage, Juventus won away against Borussia Dortmund and then beat Steaua Bucharest. In the first round of the Cup Winners Cup, Parma eliminated KS Teuta. In the UEFA Cup, Milan, Lazio and Roma eliminated Zagłębie Lubin, Omonia and Neuchâtel Xamax. Inter were eliminated by Lugano.
In the second round of Coppa Italia there were a few surprises with the elimination of Roma, Torino, Napoli and Parma after having been beaten by Bologna, Fiorenzuola, Lecce and Palermo respectively (single matches were played, unlike previous years).
Milan 12, Juventus 10, Napoli 10, Lazio 8, Udinese 7, Parma 7, Sampdoria 6, Fiorentina 6, Vicenza 6, Torino 5, Inter 4, Roma 4, Atalanta 4, Piacenza 4, Bari 2, Padova 1, Cagliari 1, Cremonese 1
October
Milan still ahead but had been joined by Parma with Lazio one point behind. The Rome derby ended in a draw, the Rossoneri beat Juventus as did the Biancocelesti who also drew with Inter. The Milan derby saw no winners. The Nerazzuri chose Roy Hogdson as manager.
In the Champions League Juventus crushed Rangers at home (4-1) and had almost secured top spot in their group to the knockout phase. In the Cup Winners Cup Parma suffered a bad defeat, 3-0, against Halmsted. In the UEFA Cup, Roma and Milan eliminated Eendracht Aalst and Strasbourg. Lazio were eliminated by Olympique Lyonnais.
In the Coppa Italia round of 16 Atalanta (after extra time), Cagliari, Bologna, Milan, Lazio, Inter, Fiorentina and Palermo went through to the quarter finals after beating in single games Juventus, Sampdoria, Reggiana, Forlì, Udinese, Fiorenzuola, Lecce and Vicenza respectively.
Milan 17, Parma 17, Lazio 16, Napoli 15, Fiorentina 15, Juventus 14, Udinese 12, Vicenza 11, Inter 10, Sampdoria 10, Roma 10, Atalanta 10, Torino 9, Bari 8, Cagliari 7, Piacenza 7, Cremonese 3, Padova 2
November
Parma drew with Juventus at home so Milan by beating Piacenza became solitary leaders. Below Bari, Cremonese and Padova were already in great difficulty.
Despite losing to Borussia Dortmund at home, Juventus, by beating Rangers 4-0 away, had already secured the knockout phase and the top of their table. Parma succeeded in overcoming the 3-goal deficit in the Cup Winners Cup against Halmsted and went through to the quarterfinals where they would meet Paris Saint-Germain in March. In the UEFA Cup third round’s first leg, Milan beat Sparta Prague 2-0 and Roma lost 2-1 at Brøndby.
In the first leg of the Coppa Italia quarter finals, Cagliari and Fiorentina beat Atalanta and Palermo 1-0, whereas Inter-Lazio and Bologna-Milan ended 1-1.
Milan 24, Parma 22, Lazio 19, Fiorentina 19, Atalanta 19, Juventus 18, Napoli 17, Roma 16, Vicenza 16, Inter 15, Udinese 15, Sampdoria 14, Cagliari 13, Piacenza 11, Torino 10, Bari 8, Cremonese 6, Padova 5
December
Milan continued to lead but Fiorentina had kept up and were only a point away. In the last game of the year the top two teams had drawn in Florence 2-2. The Rossoneri won in Rome against Lazio, Juventus demolished Torino 5-0 and beat Inter.
In the last game of the group phase of the Champions League, Juventus had drawn with Steaua Bucharest. They would meet Real Madrid in the quarterfinals in March. Roma and Milan also proceed to the quarter finals in the UEFA Cup by eliminating Sparta Prague and Brøndby.
Atalanta, Bologna, Inter and Fiorentina qualified for the Coppa Italia semi-finals after eliminating Cagliari, Milan (on penalties), Lazio and Palermo.
Milan 30, Fiorentina 29, Parma 27, Lazio 25, Juventus 24, Roma 24, Atalanta 22, Inter 21, Sampdoria 21, Napoli 20, Vicenza 20, Cagliari 20, Udinese 19, Piacenza 16, Torino 15, Bari 12, Cremonese 10, Padova 9
January
Milan increased their lead to +3 as Fiorentina drew with Vicenza at home. Lazio fell back, losing against Piacenza and Napoli. Below Padova and Bari moved up and started earning points unlike Cremonese who were now rock bottom
Juventus won the Supercoppa beating Parma 1-0 in Turin.
Milan 40, Fiorentina 37, Parma 35, Juventus 32, Lazio 29, Roma 28, Inter 26, Vicenza 26, Napoli 26, Sampdoria 25, Udinese 25, Atalanta 25, Cagliari 23, Piacenza 19, Padova 18, Torino 18, Bari 17, Cremonese 12
February
Milan increased their lead to five points as Fiorentina had a few setbacks but the Viola still maintained second place. Lazio improved and won the derby thanks to a Beppe Signori penalty.
Atalanta and Fiorentina reached the final of the Coppa Italia after having eliminated Bologna and Inter. The final, over two legs, would take place in May.
Milan 50, Fiorentina 45, Parma 42, Lazio 39, Juventus 39, Inter 35, Roma 34, Vicenza 32, Sampdoria 31, Udinese 31, Napoli 29, Cagliari 27, Atalanta 26, Piacenza 24, Padova 21, Torino 21, Bari 18, Cremonese 17
March
With six games left to the end of the season Milan had virtually won the scudetto since they now had an 8-point lead over Juventus who had climbed up. Lazio lost to Inter and Juve and fell behind again.
Juventus reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. After losing to Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg, they won 2-0 at home. They would meet Nantes next month. Parma instead were eliminated by PSG 3-2 on aggregate in the quarter finals of the Cup Winners Cup. PSG went on to win the Cup by beating Rapid Wien in the Brussels final. In the UEFA Cup Milan and Roma were both eliminated, by Bordeaux and Slavia Prague. The Rossoneri had won the first leg 2-0 but collapsed 3-0 in the second. Roma had lost 2-0 in Prague but had taken the game to extra time in Rome. But after Roma had got their third, Slavia scored and eliminated the Giallorossi.
Milan 59, Juventus 51, Fiorentina 50, Inter 44, Parma 43, Lazio 42, Roma 42, Sampdoria 38, Vicenza 38, Udinese 34, Atalanta 33, Cagliari 33, Napoli 32, Piacenza 28, Cremonese 25, Torino 25, Bari 22, Padova 21
April
Juventus had climbed to second place and -6 from Milan but then they collapsed at home 3-0 to Sampdoria de facto giving the scudetto to the Rossoneri who had won in Naples. Juve then won away to Inter, but Milan, with two games left, beat Fiorentina and won the scudetto.
So, the interest was now on UEFA Cup qualification and relegation. In the former, Lazio held the last available place, but with Juve in the Champions League final and Fiorentina in the Coppa Italia final, two more places could be available for Roma and Inter. Below, it would need a miracle for Bari to avoid Serie B and joining Torino, Cremonese and Bari.
Juventus were in the final of the Champions League. They beat Nantes 2-0 at home and even if they lost 3-2 away, they went on to meet Ajax in Rome in May.
Milan 70, Juventus 61, Fiorentina 56, Parma 55, Lazio 53, Roma 52, Inter 51, Sampdoria 48, Vicenza 47, Udinese 40, Napoli 38, Cagliari 38, Atalanta 36, Piacenza 36, Bari 31, Torino 29, Cremonese 26, Padova 21
May
Bari were unable to avoid Serie B after having lost away to Inter. As far as the UEFA Cup qualifications were concerned, with one game to go Parma had a two-point lead over Lazio and Fiorentina who in turn had one point more than Roma and two more than Inter. In the last game of the season, Lazio and Fiorentina won, Parma lost to Cagliari and Roma beat Inter. So, the qualified teams, prior to the Coppa Italia and Champions League finals, were Juve, Lazio and Fiorentina. Roma and Parma were on equal points so there could be a playoff.
However, Juventus won the Champions League. In the match in Rome against Ajax, the game finished 1-1 and the Bianconeri won after the penalty shootout. So, they would join Milan in next year’s top tier European competition.
Fiorentina then won the Coppa Italia after beating Atalanta both at home and away. As a consequence, Parma and Inter would be playing the UEFA Cup next year since Fiorentina had qualified for the Cup Winners Cup.
Top scorers were Igor Protti (Bari) and Beppe Signori with 24 goals ahead of Enrico Chiesa (Sampdoria) with 22.
Bologna, Verona, Perugia and Reggiana were promoted from Serie B.
Final table: Milan 73, Juventus 65, Lazio 59, Fiorentina 59, Roma 58, Parma 58, Inter 54, Sampdoria 52, Vicenza 49, Cagliari 41, Udinese 41, Napoli 41, Atalanta 39, Piacenza 37, Bari 32, Torino 29, Cremonese 27, Padova 24
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