Saturday, July 31, 1999
Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
Lazio Atlético Madrid 3-1
Lazio win but struggle against Colchonero reserves
The season so far
Lazio were in pre-season training and had already been on a Swedish tour where they had won two (Elfsborg 4-1 and Helsingborgs 2-1) and drawn one (IFK Göteborg 1-1).
The Biancocelesti were not at full force yet as Roberto Mancini, Beppe Pancaro and Sinisa Mihajlovic were injured while Matias Almeyda, Marcelo Salas and Diego Simeone were not match fit yet.
This season the manager of Atlético Madrid was Claudio Ranieri but the "Colchoneros" arrived at this clash with Lazio missing most of their squad and manager who had all decided to stay in Spain.
The match
It was a warm evening in Amsterdam and about 20,000 spectators were present.
The Spaniards' choice to play the reserves was not taken well by the organisers who even threatened legal action against the Madrileños.
The game had to go ahead however and Lazio, despite several absences, fielded a strong line-up showing they had strength in depth.
Lazio started the game not fully concentrated, probably aware that the Rojiblanco reserves shouldn't be unbeatable.
In fact, Lazio took the lead after ten minutes with a Fernando Couto header. On a Sebastian Veron corner, Nestor Sensini flicked a header back to the Portuguese defender who scored. Atlético 0 Lazio 1.
Lazio's aloof approach was soon punished though. In the 16th minute Paolo Negro headed the ball back to keeper Luca Marchegiani unaware that José Juan Luque was lurking between them, the Spanish forward thanked and scored. Atlético 1 Lazio 1.
From then on, the "Indios" reserves were the better team. They moved well, with quick, sharp passes and used the wings effectively. Marchegiani was saved by the crossbar on a Javier Casquero header and Alessandro Nesta and Couto were constantly under pressure.
For Lazio Alen Boksic was lively but not helped by a lumbersome Kennet Andersson. The Biancocelesti's only shot was by Dejan Stankovic but it was blocked a little fortuitously by Manuel Rubio's body. Halftime Atlético 1 Lazio 1.
For the second half Lazio replaced a disappointing Andersson with Simone Inzaghi and midfielder Nestor Sensini with a more attacking minded Attilio Lombardo. The Spaniards made no changes, more than pleased with how things were going so far.
Lazio took back the lead early, helped by a fair dose of luck. In the 50th minute Pavel Nedved tried his luck from the long range and his shot, completely by chance, hit Lombardo and changed direction thus giving the keeper no chance. Atlético 1 Lazio 2.
Boksic continued to be Lazio's most active player but the team in general was slow and apathetic. In the 65th minute the Croat went off for Sergio Conceição.
The Portuguese's introduction enabled Nedved to play further forward, while Stankovic went into the middle, and Lazio started to play better. Inzaghi had two chances but the first was saved by Rubio and the second, where he had scored set up by Nedved, was disallowed for a dubious offside.
In the 81st minute came some bad news for Lazio as Conceição was forced off for a recurring muscular injury to his right thigh.
The Spaniard continued to hold their own but finally capitulated again in the 91st minute when Inzaghi scored Lazio’s third, again on a good cross by Nedved. Final score Atletico 1 Lazio 3.
Not a great performance by Lazio. They were heavy legged and slow but it was their third game in five days, with only two training sessions in between, a 200-kilometre bus trip and a flight from Sweden to Holland. The Amsterdam tournament however was well paid and also televised in Italy and unlike others at least they had turned up ...
Who played for Atlético Madrid
Rubio, Cabanillas, Gaspar, Juanma, Ivo (64' Oscar), Lawal, Casquero (72' Falcon), Zamino (64' Cubillo), Luque (56' Pepe Domingo), Emilio (77' Raul Molina), Marcos
Substitutes: Luis, Cenci
Manager: Carlos Xavier on bench today
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta (72' Gottardi), Couto, Favalli, Stankovic, Sensini (46' Lombardo), Veron, Nedved, Andersson (46' Inzaghi), Boksic (65' Conceição, 81' Pinzi)
Substitutes: Ballotta, Di Fiordo
Manager: Eriksson
Referee: Temmink (Ned)
Goals: 10' Couto, 16' Luque, 50' Lombardo, 91' S. Inzaghi
Sources
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