All square
The two teams cancelled each other out despite both trying to win
Also on this day:
The season so far
In the summer Lazio had signed forward Ferenc Nyers and said goodbye to Alessandro Ferri, Flavio Cecconi and Corrado Giubilo. But the economic crisis had hit national football big time, therefore also Lazio. The Italian Football League introduced a minimum wage and the players threatened to strike. The more active unionists at Lazio were Uber Gradella, Leandro Remondini, Sergio Piacentini, Romano Penzo and Aldo Puccinelli who refused to train and play. In the end, a compromise was found just before the start of the first game. But this issue had a negative impact on Lazio as they collected only 4 points in the first ten games. Then they beat Bologna 8-2 and it was all smiles again. But then they still only managed 11 points in the subsequent twelve.
In January, Remo Zenobi returned as President of the club and with him he brought Norbert Hofling, the centre-forward Lazio desperately needed.
The match: Sunday, February 6, 1949, Stadio Nazionale, Rome
Lazio put Roma in great difficulty for most of the first half. Speed, order and continuity crushed the Giallorosso midfield with balls constantly passed to the wings creating numerous headaches to the Roma defence. In the 6th minute Enrique Flamini hit the crossbar from long range, imitated four minutes later by Mario Tontodonati off a corner. In the 19th minute Romano Penzo was all alone in front of the keeper Franco Risorti, dribbled past him but then was a fraction too relaxed and Gianfranco Dell’Innocenti managed to steal away the ball.
Towards the end of the first half the Lazio pressure eased off and their speed diminished so Roma were more dangerous. But only in the second half, in the 80th minute, did they really create anything dangerous with Omero Losi hitting the crossbar.
So, all square but it was far from a boring game.
Who played for Lazio
Gradella, Montanari, Piacentini, Gualtieri, Remondini, Alzani, Puccinelli, Magrini, Penzo, Flamini, De Andreis
Manager: Sperone
Who played for Roma
Risorti, Contin, Andreoli, Dell'Innocenti, Valle, Ferri, Losi, Maestrelli, Tontodonati, Zsengeller, Pesaola
Manager: Brunella
Referee: Bertolio
What happened next
With the arrival of Norbert Hofling, Lazio started playing much better. Spectacular wins against Genoa and Bologna, a draw at home against the Torino champions and in the end a decent 13th place by the end of the season. It could have been much worse.
Piacentini and Puccinelli had the most appearances (38) and Penzo the most goals (12).
The season ending was however tragic for Italian football. The great Torino, who had won 5 consecutive scudettos between 1942-43 and 1948-49, died in an air crash on May 4, 1949. Returning from a friendly against Benfica in Lisbon, the plane carrying the whole team crashed into the wall at the back of the Basilica of Superga which is on a hill near Turin. All 31 people on the flight died. These included the players, coaching staff, a few journalists and the flight crew.
Tommaso Maestrelli was supposed to be on that plane. Despite the fact that he was playing for Roma at the time, he had been invited by Valentino Mazzola to join the team for the friendly match. Maestrelli did not make it because he was unable to renew his passport in time.
A great tragedy for Italian football. The Torino team was the backbone of the Nazionale and Valentino Mazzola was the best Italian player.
What happened in Serie A 1948-49
The previous season had seen Torino destroy all opposition and win the scudetto with a 16-point lead over Milan, Juventus and Triestina. Despite Milan leading after the first half of the season, Torino then raced off alone and dominated. They only used 15 players all season, had the best defence and scored an amazing 125 goals.
They were obviously the hot favourites for the 1948-49 scudetto too. In the summer transfer window, the other teams tried to close the gap with Juventus signing John Hansen while Milan in January got Gunnar Nordhal. The Swedes had been protagonists in the London Olympic games winning the gold medal.
In the previous season the number of teams in Serie A were 21, but this year there were 20 teams.
September
Early stages but a surprise defeat in Bergamo for Torino despite being 2-1 up at half time. To note was a 7-1 Genoa win over Padova and a Juve hammering of Lazio 4-0 in Rome.
Palermo 4, Inter 4, Lucchese 4, Juventus 4, Roma 4, Genoa 3, Bologna 2, Milan 2, Torino 2, Livorno 2, Sampdoria 2, Atalanta 2, Padova 2, Novara 2, Modena 1, Triestina 0, Fiorentina 0, Bari 0, Pro Patria 0, Lazio 0
October
Torino now much better and were first with a point lead over surprise Lucchese. Inter won the derby “away” whereas the Rome intercity clash ended in a draw and Sampdoria humiliated Genoa 5-1. Torino won their derby. Spectacular 4-4 between Sampdoria and Pro Patria.
Torino 12, Lucchese 11, Inter 10, Milan 9, Palermo 9, Roma 9, Juventus 8, Genoa 8, Padova 8, Sampdoria 7, Bologna 7, Fiorentina 7, Novara 7, Triestina 5, Atalanta 5, Pro Patria 5, Modena 4, Livorno 3, Lazio 3, Bari 3
November
Inter won in Turin against Juventus and with Torino losing in Milan, the Nerazzurri and Lucchese joined the Granata at the top. Mid-month the Tuscans took a solitary lead which they still kept entering December. Spectacular 8-2 Lazio win vs Bologna.
Lucchese 19, Torino 18, Inter 17, Genoa 15, Milan 15, Sampdoria 14, Roma 14, Fiorentina 14, Palermo 13, Padova 13, Juventus 11, Triestina 11, Bologna 11, Pro Patria 10, Modena 10, Novara 9, Atalanta 8, Lazio 7, Livorno 6, Bari 5
December
Lucchese’s ride at the top ended in game 13 when they collapsed 5-0 against Sampdoria and Torino won in Modena. In game 17 Torino lost 3-0 to Genoa who momentarily took the lead although the Granata had a game in hand. Once they beat Bari at home, a match that had been suspended due to fog, Torino went top again.
Torino 25, Genoa 24, Inter 22*, Sampdoria 22, Lucchese 22, Milan 20, Roma 18, Fiorentina 18, Triestina 17, Juventus 17, Palermo 17, Bologna 17, Padova 16*, Pro Patria 14, Modena 14, Livorno 13, Lazio 11, Novara 11, Atalanta 10, Bari 10
* one game in hand
January
Torino pulled away and now had a six-point lead. Some spectacular matches with lots of goals on January 6 as Juventus beat Padova 6-1 and Inter smashed Fiorentina 7-1. Genoa, also due to a loss in Turin against Juve, had been caught up by Inter and Sampdoria.
Torino 36, Inter 30, Genoa 30, Sampdoria 30, Milan 29, Triestina 28, Lucchese 27, Juventus 24*, Palermo 24, Bologna 23, Fiorentina 23, Padova 22, Roma 21, Modena 18, Bari 17, Pro Patria 16, Lazio 16, Atalanta 15, Livorno 15, Novara 14*
* one game in hand
February
The three derbies of match day 24 all ended in draws: the Rome and Genoa ones were goalless but the Milan derby ended in a spectacular 4-4. A week later Torino beat Juventus 3-1. Inter managed to reduce the lead to five points after the Granata were held to another 4-4 draw at Padua. That same day Juve beat Samp 5-1.
Torino 40, Inter 35, Milan 34, Genoa 33, Sampdoria 32, Lucchese 30, Juventus 29, Bologna 29, Triestina 28, Palermo 26, Padova 25, Fiorentina 25, Roma 23, Lazio 20, Modena 20, Bari 20, Novara 19, Livorno 18, Pro Patria 17, Atalanta 17
March
The five-point gap between Torino and Inter remained. Torino beat Milan and Inter-Juventus finished in a draw. Below there were lots of teams involved in the relegation battle with six clubs within four points of each other.
Torino 45, Inter 40, Milan 38, Genoa 35, Sampdoria 34, Juventus 33, Triestina 32, Bologna 31, Lucchese 30, Palermo 30, Fiorentina 29, Padova 29, Roma 25, Lazio 24, Bari 23, Livorno 22, Modena 21, Novara 21, Pro Patria 19, Atalanta 19
April
Five games to the end of the campionato and Torino with a four-point lead looked like they would win it again. Below Livorno collapsed and were now bottom with Modena. Pro Patria, Atalanta and Novara now had a two-point cushion over the relegation zone.
Torino 51, Inter 47, Milan 44, Genoa 40, Sampdoria 39, Juventus 38, Lucchese 36, Fiorentina 34, Bologna 33, Triestina 33, Palermo 31, Padova 31, Lazio 30, Bari 29, Roma 28, Pro Patria 24, Atalanta 24, Novara 24, Modena 22, Livorno 22
May
On Saturday April 30, Torino played in Milan against Inter. It was the Nerozzurri’s final attempt at reducing the Granata's lead but it ended in a goalless draw. Torino then flew to Lisbon where on May 3 they played a friendly against Benfica. The day after the team flew back home but the weather conditions over Turin were terrible: strong winds, rain, low clouds. The plane smashed into the Superga hill. Nobody survived.
Torino were forced to play the youth team for the remaining four matches. Their opponents, Genoa, Palermo, Sampdoria and Fiorentina, did the same as a sign of respect.
The scudetto race was over. Torino won the last scudetto of the Grande Torino. So, eyes on what was happening in the relegation battle. With one game left, Livorno had a foot and half in Serie B with Modena, Atalanta and Pro Patria fighting to avoid the last slot.
Torino 58, Inter 53, Milan 48, Juventus 44, Sampdoria 41, Genoa 40, Bologna 39, Lucchese 38, Triestina 38, Fiorentina 38, Palermo 36, Padova 34, Lazio 33, Roma 30, Novara 30, Bari 30, Atalanta 29, Pro Patria 28, Modena 27, Livorno 26
June
In the last game of the season Modena were away to Triestina, Pro Patria in Genoa and Atalanta in Livorno. All three teams won so Modena joined Livorno in Serie B. Como and Venezia were promoted to Serie A. Istvan Nyers was top scorer with 26 goals.
Final table: Torino 60, Inter 55, Milan 50, Juventus 44, Sampdoria 41, Bologna 41, Genoa 40, Lucchese 38, Triestina 38, Fiorentina 38, Palermo 36, Padova 36, Lazio 34, Roma 32, Novara 31, Atalanta 31, Pro Patria 30, Bari 30, Modena 29, Livorno 26
Sources
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