Honourable end to season
In the Roman summer heat, the two sides play a decent game but it ends goalless
Also on this day: June 25, 1971, Basel Lazio 1-3 Alps Cup Final. Lazio put on good performance to beat Basel 3-1 and lift consolation silverware. Lazio Hero of the day: Pierpaolo Manservisi
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 13th under Brazilian player-manager Amílcar. Their best results had been beating Juventus 2-1 away and Pro Patria 5-0 and Modena 9-1 at home. Top scorer was Anfilogino Guarisi, known as Filó, with 12 league goals.
This season the manager was Austrian Karl Stürmer. The main new signings were defender Armando Bertagni (Salernitana), midfielder Pietro Buscaglia (GC Vigevanesi), forwards Antonio Bisigato (Bari), Leonisio Fantoni III (Palestra Itália) and Piero Pastore (back after a year with Milan).
Leaving the capital were defender Orlando Tognotti (Terni), midfielders Amílcar (retiring), Mario Malatesta (Milan) and Aldo Spivach (Padova) plus forward Carlo Cevenini V (Pisa). So, some important players were saying farewell.
Lazio were currently in 9th position, on 32 points with Triestina. The Biancocelesti had won 12, drawn 8 and lost 13. There had been some good wins; Ambrosiana-Inter 2-1 away, Roma 2-1, Alessandria 6-0, Juventus 1-0 and Milan 2-0 all at home. Lazio however were too inconsistent to fight for the higher positions. Top scorer so far was Joāo Fantoni I with 10 league goals.
Fiorentina had finished 4th the previous season, under Austrian Hermann Felsner. The Viola had beaten Lazio in Florence but lost in Rome. Top scorer was Argentine Pedro Petrone with 25 league goals.
This season Felsner had started but then been replaced by Hungarian, Wilhelm Rady after 22 games, with the Florentines in 9th position. The Gigliati's main new players were; midfielder Germán Antonioli (Miramar Misiones) and forwards Vicente Sarni (Peñarol) and Carlos Gringa (Peñarol), all Uruguayan plus Italian forward Aldo Borel (Casale).
Leaving were midfielder Andrea Kregar (Fiumana) and forward Fortunato Baldinotti (Modena).
One interesting player in a Lazio context was midfielder Giuseppe Bigogno as he would later become Lazio manager (1951-53).
Fiorentina were currently in 6th position, on 38 points. The Florentines had won 16 (including Juventus 1-0, Lazio 3-1, Milan 5-1, at home), drawn 6 and lost 11. Top scorer was Petrone with 12 league goals.
Today's game did not have much to say. Lazio with a win could try and climb up to 8th position while the Viola could possibly reach 4th.
The match: Sunday, June 25, 1933, Stadio PNF, Rome
There was a decent crowd today considering the little importance of the game and the blistering heat (33 degrees).
Lazio were missing defender Armando Del Debbio, midfielder José Castelli and forwards "Filó" Guarisi and Joāo Fantoni while Fiorentina were without midfielders Alfredo Pitto and Gastone Prendato plus forward Pedro Petrone.
The Viola had the upper hand in the early stages. Aldo Borel was freed in front of Ezio Sclavi but Pedro Rizzetti saved the day by clearing into corner. A series of corners followed and then Carlos Gringa hit the side netting with a powerful effort.
In the 10th minute Gringa caused havoc in the Lazio area but after a scramble Serafini cleared. On the subsequent counterattack an Alejandro Demaria shot was deflected into corner by Lorenzo Gazzari.
Fiorentina were on top with two shots by Antonio Busini saved by Sclavi but Lazio had a long-range strike by Enzio Serafini not far off target.
In the 18th minute Borel had a one-on-one with the keeper, but Sclavi dived low at his feet and blocked. Lazio had attempts with De Maria, Maurizio Marini and Pietro Buscaglia but lacked precision.
In the 36th minute Buscaglia was on target but Bruno Ballanti did well to save low.
In the 42nd minute came the biggest chance of all for Fiorentina. Borel again had only the keeper to beat and hit it well but Sclavi pulled off a superb save, diving and palming away with one hand. An amazing save. Half time Lazio 0 Fiorentina 0.
In the second half it was Lazio that began the stronger. In the first minutes Buscaglia squared into the middle and the ball crossed the whole goal line without any players in blue managing to get a foot to it.
In the 55th minute Ballanti saved a dangerous Serafini header and in the 57th the keeper again blocked a powerful shot by Buscaglia that was heading under the crossbar.
Lazio were against the wind but continued to attack. They tried changing something up front with Octavio Fantoni and De Maria swapping positions but apart from a series of corners and scrambles were not able to really threaten Ballanti again. Fiorentina did less and had no more shots on goal. Full time Lazio 0 Fiorentina 0.
Lazio probably deserved more but it was a decent draw and a fair result. A dignified way to end the season.
To take into account was also the heat and the absence of both teams' top scorers.
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Mattei II, Bertagni, Rizzetti, Tonali, Serafini, Buscaglia, Marini, Pomponi, Fantoni II, De Maria
Manager: Stürmer
Who played for Fiorentina
Ballanti, Gazzari, Vignolini, Pizziolo, Bigogno, Neri, Bonesini, Sarni, Borel I, Busini III, Gringa
Manager: Rady
Referee: Zallone
What happened next
The Biancocelesti finished 10th, on 33 points. Top scorer was Joāo Fantoni with 10 league goals. An average season for Lazio with too many ups and downs.
Fiorentina finished 5th, on 39 points. Top scorer was Petrone with 12 goals. Another positive season for the Gigliati.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 5th time while saying farewell for now were Pro Patria and Bari.
Lazio 1932-33
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 42 |
Top appearances
Player | Appearances Serie A |
Serafini | 33 |
Sclavi | 31 |
Fantoni I | 30 |
Bertagni | 30 |
Top 5 goal scorers
Player | Goals Serie A |
Fantoni I | 10 |
Demaria | 7 |
Guarisi | 6 |
Bisigato | 6 |
Pastore | 5 |
Let's talk about Pietro Buscaglia
Pietro Paolo Andrea Buscaglia was born in Torino on February 9, 1911. His parents however were both from Vigevano in Lombardy.
His first club was GC Vigevanesi (Vigevano-Pavia) in 1929. The Ducali were in Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and finished 13th. He then stayed another two seasons with a 1st place and promotion and then a 4th place in Serie B, under manager Ugo Bonzano. Buscaglia played 22 league games and scored 14 goals in his spell in Lombardy.
In 1932 he joined Lazio in Serie A. This was partly due to the fact that he had to do his military service in the capital. The manager was Austrian Karl Stürmer and the Biancocelesti finished 10th. The highlights were wins against Ambrosiana-Inter 2-1 away, Roma 2-1, Alessandria 6-0, Juventus 1-0 and Milan 4-0 at home. Buscaglia played 11 league games with 1 goal (Triestina).
In 1933-34 he stayed with Lazio. The manager was still Stürmer and the Romans finished 10th again. Their best results were beating Milan 4-0, a 2-2 away draw to Juventus and drawing a derby 3-3 after being 0-3 down. Buscaglia played 23 league games with 4 goals (Casale, Triestina, Bologna, Triestina again).
In 1934 he signed for Torino. He stayed four seasons with the Granata. Toro finished 14th, 3rd and 3rd (under Tony Cargnelli) and 9th (under Gyula Feldmann and then Mario Sperone). In 1935-36 Torino won the Coppa Italia in which he was top scorer with 8 goals plus another 4 goals in the Central European Cup. In total he played 80 league games and scored 35 goals. His teammates included future film star Raf Vallone and future Lazio manager Federico Allasio (1954).
In 1938 Buscaglia joined Milan where he stayed three seasons. Milan were forced to be called Milano at the time by the nationalistic regime. The Rossoneri finished 9th in the first season under Jozsef Bánás. He played 21 league games with 5 goals (Novara, Juventus, Triestina, Lucchese, Inter) and 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Anconitana).
In 1939-40 the Diavolo finished 8th again under Bánás. Buscaglia played 9 league games with 3 goals (Napoli x2, Roma) and 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Fiorentina).
In his last year, in 1940-41, Milan finished 3rd under Guido Ara. Buscaglia played 10 league games with 2 goals (Bari, Fiorentina). This was the season the great Giuseppe Meazza joined Milan after thirteen seasons with Ambrosiana Inter.
In Buscaglia’s time in Milan he played alongside two future Lazio players, Leonardo Remondini (1947-50) and Paolo Todeschini (1948-49)
In 1941-42 he spent a season with Savona in Serie B. The Biancoblu finished 14th, under Hungarian manager György Orth. Buscaglia played 27 league games and was top scorer with 10 goals. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Romolo Remigi (1933-34).
In 1942-43 during the war, he played for Abbiategrosso (Milan) in the 3rd tier. He played 35 league games with 18 goals.
His last club was his hometown Vigevano. After the war he spent two seasons, 1945-47, back with his local team. He helped the "Vige" get promoted to Serie B, where they then finished 7th. He played 65 league games and scored 16 goals.
At 36 he then retired. He went back to Vigevano where he opened a shop.
He won one cap for Italy in 1937 in a 2-0 win against Hungary.
Buscaglia was a midfielder. He was no giant at 1.68 and 70 kilos but he had a good club career. He played as inside half and was known for his well-timed runs into the area which explains his many goals. He played with three important clubs, Lazio, Torino and Milan. He made 162 appearances in Serie A with 50 goals. He won one piece of silverware, the 1936 Coppa Italia with Torino.
At Lazio he stayed two seasons. He made 34 league appearances with 5 goals. A curious fact about his time in Rome is that he played in a jazz band.
He died in Vigevano on July 12, 1997. A street in Vigevano has since been named after him.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A Appearances (goals) |
1932-33 | 11 (1) |
1933-34 | 23 (4) |
Total | 34 (5) |
Sources
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