A well earned draw
Lazio come back with a point from a traditionally difficult ground and maintain their lead in Serie B.
Also on this day: January 2, 1938, Fiorentina Lazio 1-1. Lazio take home a point after a difficult game in Florence. Player of the day: Luigi Milano
The season so far
The first big news of the season came with Italy winning the world cup in Spain. The Italian Football Federation, to celebrate its historic win, decided to cut a few years off the suspension of all those players involved in the Totonero scandal of 1980. Therefore Bruno Giordano and Lionello Manfredonia could come back to play. This was a real bonus for Lazio and a golden ticket to finally get back into Serie A.
President Gian Casoni and Sports Director Antonio Sbardella got rid of a lot of players that had been bought in the last couple years – in other words those who failed to get Lazio promoted - and replaced them with new ones that were to guarantee that the job could get done.
So in came some of the players that, whether they stayed for a long time or not, become Lazio icons during the 1980s such as Nando Orsi, Enrico Vella and Gabriele Podavini.
Lazio therefore had changed quite a lot and had difficulty in finding the right team. Despite being knocked out of the Coppa Italia in August, the season started with a lot of expectations. However, three draws in the first three games meant that there was quite a lot of pressure on Manager Roberto Clagluna, who was not a fan favourite.
The manager started to change things. Orsi substituted Maurizio Moscatelli who was not performing well following his return to football after breaking his Achilles tendon, Manfredonia was moved to midfield, Marco Saltarelli was introduced as new left-back and Renato Miele was placed at the centre of the defence. Things began to change and Lazio went on a roll of seven consecutive victories from the end of October to mid December and reached the top spot in Serie B.
In December, in the last match of 1982, Lazio drew 2-2 in a spectacular game against other promotion favourites Milan, and Serie A looked just around the corner.
The match: Sunday, January 2, 1983, Stadio Comunale, Bergamo
It has historically never been easy at Bergamo for Lazio and this game was no different. Lazio lost Manfredonia after only three minutes due to injury and was substituted by Roberto Tavola. This problem plus the fact that Giordano was having a difficult day looked like a bad omen. Atalanta also had a player who was a continuous thorn in the Lazio side: Giorgio Magnocavallo.
Not much happened until the 43rd minute when Beppe Savoldi back heeled a ball that surprised Orsi but Miele was able to clear just before the ball went over the line.
In the second half Lazio decided that a draw was the best possible result and fell back to defend, but Giordano almost made it 1-0 for Lazio on the counter attack. Vincenzo D’Amico’s shot was not held by Mirko Benevelli but Bruno-gol fumbled the simple tap in.
In the 69th minute Marco Pacione, who had substituted Savoldi, was fouled in the penalty box by Saltarelli. Bortolo Mutti took the penalty and it was 1-0 for Atalanta.
Four minutes later, Giordano touched a free kick for Podavini. His mighty whack could not be saved and Lazio equalised.
Both teams at this point decided that a point was good enough and, with the exception of a couple of lame attempts from Atalanta with Pacione and Mutti, not much else happened.
There are never easy games in Serie B.
Who played for Atalanta
Benevelli, G.Rossi, Magnocavallo, Snidaro, Filisetti, E. Perico, Agostinelli (65' Donadoni), Magrin (60' Pacione), Savoldi I, D.Moro, Mutti II.
Substitutes: Bordoni, Codogno, Madonna.
Manager: Bianchi.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Podavini, Saltarelli, Vella, Miele, Perrone, Ambu (50’ De Nadai), Manfredonia (3’ Tavola), Giordano, D’Amico, Badiani.
Substitutes: Moscatelli, Pochesci, Chiodi
Manager: Clagluna.
Referee: Paparesta
Goals: 69’ Mutti (pen), 73’ Podavini
In the Atalanta squad there were a number of interesting players. Daniele Filisetti would start playing for Lazio later that year, Magnocavallo a few years later and Armando Madonna in 1990. Andrea Agostinelli had played for Lazio in the 1970s and was a product of the Biancocelesti’s youth team.
Savoldi was one of the big names of Italian 1970s football. His move from Bologna to Napoli in 1975 made him the most expensive player in Italian football history. Also linked to Napoli was the manager Ottavio Bianchi who, as manager of Diego Armando Maradona’s team, won a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia and a UEFA Cup. Roberto Donadoni, who came on in the second half, would later win numerous scudettos, European Cups and Intercontinental Cups with AC Milan, plus a bronze medal at the Italian World Cup of 1990.
What happened next
In the 18 games that followed this match Lazio won only three. The Biancocelesti went into a long psychological and technical crisis. They had difficulties in scoring because they were not creating chances. Clagluna could not figure out a solution. In April Lazio dismally drew 0-0 three times and lost at home against Pistoiese and away to Varese.
The match against Reggiana on May 8 was fundamental. The Serie A was slipping away. Lazio scored three times with Giordano but were unable to secure victory. Clagluna had to go in order to create a spark that could help Lazio get over the line. Old Lazio glory Giancarlo Morrone, who was managing the Primavera team, was called in to help create that spark. The next match things precipitated even further and Lazio lost 5-1 to Milan.
On Sunday May 22, Lazio fans woke up with heavy hearts. But when they went to buy the newspaper they saw that Giorgio Chinaglia wanted to buy Lazio. The enthusiasm that this news generated brought 55,000 people to Lazio Atalanta, a decisive game, and lifted the team to victory.
After a goalless draw at Arezzo the following Sunday came the mother of all games for Lazio at home against Catania. A win meant that only a point would then be needed to get promoted. And win it was thanks to a shot from Podavini deflected by Giorgio Mastropasqua that made it 2-1. The last game against Cavese finished 2-2 and Lazio was finally in Serie A after three years.
A final note on that season. In order to celebrate, Lazio organised a friendly against Ajax on June 17. Apart from Giordano scoring three incredible goals, the match was important because Italians were introduced to a young Dutch centre forward for the very first time. His name was Marco Van Basten.
Lazio 1982-83
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 44 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
Total | 43 | 16 | 19 | 8 | 52 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 43 | 38 | 5 |
Vella | 42 | 38 | 4 |
Podavini | 39 | 34 | 5 |
D'Amico | 38 | 34 | 4 |
Manfredonia | 38 | 36 | 2 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 21 | 18 | 3 |
Vella | 5 | 5 | - |
D'Amico | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Manfredonia | 4 | 4 | - |
Ambu | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Let's talk about Gabriele Podavini
Gabriele Podavini is one the heroes of the -9 season and a personal favourite of mine (I think he is greatest Lazio right back of all time!!!). He was a very modern right back, more similar to Manuel Lazzari than many of his fellow players at the time. He also had a cracking shot and always scored a few goals each season.
Born in Gavardo on November 25 1955, he grew up in the Brescia youth team. He was sent on loan to Bolzano in Serie C in 1975 where he did well enough to make the Brescia first team in the next season. He stayed in Lombardy for six years, five in Serie B and one in Serie A.
In 1982 he was purchased by Lazio, following a suggestion from Roberto Clagluna. Podavini made a major contribution to Lazio’s promotion to Serie A. He played 43 games that season with two goals and one of his shots, deflected by a defender, was fundamental in beating Catania and allow the team to need just one point for promotion.
Despite Giorgio Chinaglia’s promises of making the Biancocelesti great, Lazio in the next three years were certainly not great. A first season of suffering as Lazio managed to stay in Serie A despite making only 9 points in the first half of the season. A second year with surprise relegation. A third season in Serie B when from being initial favourites for promotion they were almost relegated in Serie C.
And then came the famous -9 season of 1986-87. After the match fixing scandal of 1986 emerged, Lazio were first relegated, and later reinstated in Serie B but with an initial docking of nine points. What needs to be remembered is that at that time there were just two points for a win, so a huge uphill start. Lazio started well but faltered towards the end and in the last match Lazio had to win to hope to go to a play off to avoid relegation.
With seven minutes to go, it was still 0-0. Podavini got the ball and kicked. It was more of a desperate attempt than actual possibility of a goal. He miskicked it but the ball reached to Giuliano Fiorini who turned around and scored. Lazio were safe for the moment. Thanks to Podavini. Lazio would go on to secure permanence in Serie B with a dramatic play off win against Campobasso in Naples.
After five very intense years, Podavini in 1987 was sold to Genoa in Serie B (much to my displeasure!!!). He stayed there for just a year and in 1988 he moved to Siena in Serie C where he basically finished his professional career.
After quitting football he worked as manager of minor teams, but his time at Lazio was so intense that he became a Lazio supporter. “When I see Fiorini’s goal I still get emotional. Despite the fact that many years have passed, the memory is very much alive”, he said recently.
He played 171 games for Lazio, 47 in Serie A, 102 in Serie B and 22 in Coppa Italia, scoring 12 goals, one in Serie A, 6 in Serie B and 5 in Coppa Italia.
All Lazio fans will forever be indebted to Gabriele Podavini. Our hero of the -9 season.
Appearances for Lazio
Season | Total | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1982-83 | 39 | - | 34 | 5 |
1983-84 | 23 | 22 | - | 1 |
1984-85 | 30 | 25 | - | 5 |
1985-86 | 39 | - | 34 | 5 |
1986-87 | 40 | - | 34 | 6 |
Total | 171 | 47 | 102 | 22 |
Goals for Lazio
Season | Total | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1982-83 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 |
1984-85 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 |
1985-86 | 3 | - | 2 | 1 |
1986-87 | 5 | - | 3 | 2 |
Total | 12 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
Sources
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