History must wait
Lazio denied win against mighty Blancos by two crossbars and two defensive mistakes
Also on this day:
The season so far
Lazio had qualified for the Champions League by winning their historic second Scudetto. The Biancocelesti had also won the Coppa Italia to clinch the double. They had then followed these up by winning the Italian Supercoppa in September beating Inter 4-3.
The summer market seemed to have further strengthened the Romans. Arriving were keeper Angelo Peruzzi (Inter), midfielders Dino Baggio (Parma), Lucas Castromán (Vélez Sarsfield), Karel Poborský (Benfica) plus forwards Hernán Crespo (Parma) and Claudio Lopez (Valencia).
Some sacrifices were obviously necessary and leaving were keeper Marco Ballotta (Inter), defender Nestor Sensini, midfielders Matias Almeyda (Parma), Attilio Lombardo (Sampdoria), Sergio Conceição (Parma) and forwards Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) and Roberto Mancini (retiring). Some great players who would be missed.
In Serie A things had not gone as hoped and Lazio were currently in 3rd position but well off leaders Roma. In early January Eriksson had resigned due to Lazio's difficulties and a 5th position but also as he had already agreed to become England national coach from June 2001 and thought it was the right thing to do. Dino Zoff took over and things had improved with 6 wins and a draw.
In today's competition, the Champions League, Lazio were in the second group phase.
They had started the tournament in September in the first group phase. The Biancocelesti had won 4 (Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 away and 5-1 at home, Sparta Prague 3-0 at home and 1-0 away), drawn 1 (Arsenal 1-1 at home) and lost 1 (Arsenal 0-2 away), finishing 2nd but qualified.
In the second group phase things had started badly with 3 defeats (Anderlecht 0-1 away, Leeds United 0-1 at home and Real Madrid 2-3 away, with a dubious last-minute penalty). This evening was for prestige but also to still give themselves a slight chance of qualifying. The problem was the opposition were the mighty Real Madrid.
Real Madrid had finished an uncharacteristic 5th in the Liga the previous season but had triumphed in the Champions League, defeating Valencia 3-0. The manager was Welshman John Toshack until November 17 and then Vicente Del Bosque.
This season the manager was still Den Bosque. The main new signings were: midfielders Luís Figo (Barcelona), Flavio (Deportivo La Coruña), Santiago Solari (Atlético Madrid), Albert Celades (Celta Vigo), Claude Makélélé (Celta Vigo) and forward Pedro Munitis (Racing Santander),
Leaving were: keeper Alvaro Bizzarri (Real Valladolid), defenders Júlio César (Milan), midfielders Fernando Redondo (Milan), Clarence Seedorf (Inter), Christian Karembeu (Middlesbrough) plus forwards Nicolas Anelka (PSG) and a young Samuel Eto'o (Mallorca).
In August Real Madrid had been surprisingly beaten in the UEFA Super Cup by Galatasaray 2-1 with a golden goal.
In La Liga, Real were top of the table after 16 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats. The Blancos were four points clear of Deportivo La Coruña who they would play at the weekend.
In the Champions League the Merengues had got through the first group phase by winning 4 (Spartak Moscow 1-0, Sporting Lisbon 4-0, Bayer Leverkusen 5-3 at home and 3-2 away), drawing 1 (Sporting Lisbon 2-2 away) and losing one (Spartak Moscow 0-1 in last game).
The Blancos were doing well in the second group stage and had won 3 out of 3 (Leeds United 2-0 away, Anderlecht 4-1 at home and Lazio 3-2 at home). In the game against Lazio, in Madrid, Real had won with a disputable penalty in the 89th minute.
A big game tonight especially for Lazio.
The match: Wednesday, February 21, 2001. Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A humid evening but a great atmosphere and about 50,000 spectators.
Lazio were without midfielders Dino Baggio and Karel Poborský who were not in their European list as they had already played for Parma and Benfica but, more importantly, Alessandro Nesta and Juan Sebastian Veron who were both suspended, plus Claudio López injured.
Real Madrid played reserve keeper César Sanchez and were missing English midfielder Steve McManaman and forward Fernando Morientes.
Lazio, as in Madrid a week earlier, came out firing. The Biancocelesti took the lead in the same minute as at the Bernabeu, the 4th. Lucas Castromán took the initiative and went on a good run down the right, beat three Spaniards but was tackled by Roberto Carlos as he entered the box, the ball then came across low to Pavel Nedved in the middle who hit a low left foot which first went through Fernando Hierro's legs and then those of an uncertain Sánchez. Lazio 1 Real Madrid 0. Another dream start for the Romans.
Lazio continued on the front foot and had two more big chances. In the 11th minute César did well to narrow the angle on a dangerous Diego Simeone effort and in the 29th Hernán Crespo hit the crossbar with a header cum shoulder effort.
The Merengues' reaction was tame but they gradually gained ground and managed to equalise in the 32nd minute with some help from Lazio's backline. Angelo Peruzzi hoofed the ball into Real's half and all the Lazio defenders ran forward but it was volleyed straight forward again by Claude Makélélé, Santiago Solari beat the offside trap (Guti and Raúl were both off but not involved) and brilliantly chipped Peruzzi. Lazio 1 Real Madrid 1. Solari had taken the goal well but the Lazio defence had been sleeping.
The game was balanced with neither side getting the upper hand or having any clear chances and halftime came with the sides level on 1-1.
Lazio started strongly after the break too and took back the lead early on. In the 52nd minute it was Castromán again who surged forward more centrally on the right, this time he entered the box, dribbled, cut inside and shot, the ball ricocheted off the keeper and then Geremi's chest and was stabbed in from close range by Crespo. An opportunist goal but Lazio 2 Real Madrid 1.
Again, Real's reaction was far from fierce but they did put Lazio’s defence under constant pressure despite not creating anything really dangerous.
In the 64th and 69th minutes the Blancos replaced Iván Helguera with Albert Celades and Guti with Pedro Munitis.
Lazio seemed to be controlling the Madrileños' attacks well until the 73rd minute. On a cross from the right by Munitis the Lazio defenders Paolo Negro and Beppe Pancaro were beaten in the air by Raúl who headed backwards and over Peruzzi. Lazio 2 Real Madrid 2.
Again, a defensive hesitation had let the Spaniards equalise.
Lazio generously went forward in the later stages. The Biancocelesti made a couple of changes too; Simone Inzaghi for Marcelo Salas immediately after the Real goal and Roberto Baronio for Sinisa Mihajlovic in the 81st minute.
The visitors were pleased with the draw as it was enough for an early qualification and slowed the game down with a final substitution in the 90th minute when Aitor Karanka came on for Luís Figo.
Lazio wanted and needed a win but luck was not on their side when, in the 94th and last minute of injury time, Castromán's strike hit the crossbar. Final score Lazio 2 Real Madrid 2.
A valiant performance by Lazio but the woodwork twice and two defensive hesitations had cost them a prestigious win. It was also indispensable to be able to continue in the Champions League which Lazio were now officially out of as Leeds United had beaten Anderlecht 4-1 away.
The table read Real 10, Leeds 9, Anderlecht 3, Lazio 1.
A pity as a win was within Lazio's grasp tonight against a Real Madrid side who had not seemed unbeatable.
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, Pancaro, Negro, F. Couto, Favalli, Castroman, Simeone, Mihajlovic (81' Baronio), Nedved, Crespo, Salas (73' S. Inzaghi)
Substitutes: Marchegiani, Colonnese, Pesaresi, Gottardi, Ravanelli
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Real Madrid
César, Salgado, Hierro, Geremi, Roberto Carlos, Figo (90' Karanka), Makélélé, Helguera (64' Celades), Solari, Raúl, Guti (69' Munitis)
Substitutes: Casillas, Sanchis, Rivera, Savio
Manager: Del Bosque
Referee: Melo Pereira (Por)
Goals: 4' Nedved, 32' Solari, 52' Crespo, 73' Raúl
What happened next
Lazio finished the season well and came 3rd (CL qualification). In the last 15 matches, the Biancocelesti won 10 (including Juventus 4-1 at home), drew 2 (including derby equalising in 95th minute after being 0-2 down) and lost 3 (including last game at Lecce where they basically gave up once they heard other scores). Top scorer was Hernan Crespo with 28 goals (26 in A and top scorer).
In the last two Champions League games the Biancocelesti finally won a game defeating Anderlecht 2-1 at home and then drew 3-3 away to Leeds United.
Real Madrid then won La Liga for the 28th time. Top scorer was Raúl with 32 goals (24 in Liga).
In the Champions League they reached the semi-finals. In the two remaining group games they defeated Leeds 3-2 at home and then lost 0-2 away to Anderlecht. The Merengues then got their revenge on Galatasaray 5-3 but lost to eventual winners Bayern Munich 1-3 (0-1, 1-2).
In the final Bayern defeated Valencia 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw (again two penalties).
Let's talk about Luís Figo
Luís Filipe Madeira Caeiro Figo known as Luís Figo was born in Almada (Setúbal-Lisbon) on November 4, 1972.
He was a product of the Sporting Lisbon youth academy which he joined at 13.
In 1989 he was added to the first team squad. He went on to play 158 games with 23 goals over six seasons. The "Leões" (Lions) finished 3rd twice, 4th, 3rd again twice and 2nd. In 1994-95 the Verde e Brancos won the Portuguese Cup and Figo was top scorer with 4 goals. His managers included Raúl Águas, Marinho Peres, Sir Bobby Robson and Carlos Queiroz.
In 1995 he moved to Catalunya and joined Barcelona. He stayed five successful seasons winning 2 Ligas, 2 Copa del Rey, a Spanish Supercup, a UEFA Winners’ Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. He played a total of 249 games with 45 goals. His managers with Barça included Johan Cruijff, Bobby Robson and Louis Van Gaal.
In 2000 he controversially left the Blaugrana and joined bitter rivals Real Madrid (the Barça fans threw a pig's head at him when he returned to the Nou Camp…). He stayed with the Merengues for five seasons and there too he won plenty of trophies. The Blancos won 2 Ligas, 2 Super Cups, a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup. It was with Real that he won the Ballon d'Or in 2000 and FIFA World Player in 2001. He played a total of 245 games with 57 goals. His managers in Madrid included Vicente del Bosque, Carlos Queiroz, José Camacho and Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
In 2005 he left Spain and joined Inter in the Italian Serie A. He stayed four seasons. In Milan he continued to win trophies; the Scudetto 4 times, a Coppa Italia and 3 Italian Supercoppe. He played 140 games with 11 goals. With the Nerazzurri his manager was Roberto Mancini for three seasons and José Mourinho for one.
After a highly successful career he then retired at 36.
At international level he played 127 times for Portugal and scored 32 goals. He played in two World Cups and three European Championships. Portugal were Euro runners-up in 2004, losing the final 0-1 to Greece in Lisbon and came 4th at the 2006 World Cup. At U21 level Figo won another silver medal at Euro 1994 while he won gold with the U20s at Euro 1991 and with the U16s at Euro 1989.
Figo was a superb player. He was a right winger, extremely skilful and quick. He had the ability to get past defenders with his dribbling and speed and had an excellent cross. The ideal teammate for strikers. He was also a strong character, charismatic and with a winning mentality.
He is considered one of the best European players of the 20th/21st century.
Since retiring he has worked for Inter, run for FIFA President and worked as a football advisor and ambassador for UEFA.
Sources
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