The greatest match ever

Season 1977-78

Game 4, Serie A

Sunday, October 2, 1977

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Juventus 3-0

Lazio demolish Juventus in an epic match

Lazio had not started exceptionally well in Serie A, in the first three games they had lost one and drawn two.

The match

Minute number 3. Totò Lopez passed to Renzo Garlaschelli at the centre of the penalty area, big whack, Lazio ahead.

This was perfect for Lazio and disastrous for Juventus. The Biancocelesti were able to take a long breather and concentrate on defence whereas the Bianconeri had to get organised and go on the attack. As a consequence, nothing else happened in the first 45 minutes, with an exception of a Lopez attempt parried by Dino Zoff in the 28th minute, as Lazio managed to control play easily.

In the second half the Biancocelesti were immediately dangerous with Lopez who shot at Zoff in the 49th minute and 360 seconds later welcome to the Bruno Giordano show part one. Ciccio Cordova to Pietro Ghedin on the left, perfect cross and wonderful acrobatic volley from the Lazio centre forward. Lazio 2 Juventus 0.

Juventus finally began to be dangerous and a Giuseppe Furino shot shaved the post. In the 66th minute a Roberto Bettega header was parried by Claudio Garella. Ball back to Lazio, another Ghedin cross, Francesco Morini missed the ball that arrived to Giordano. Welcome to the show part two. Lob over Morini, Zoff advanced, lob over Zoff. Lazio 3 Juventus 0. One of the most spectacular goals seen at the Olimpico.

Juve had nothing more to lose but were only dangerous in the dying minutes when Bettega missed a goal from a few metres.

Spectacular match from Lazio. The crowd was so wild with excitement that the noise they made was used for the Biancocelesti’s famous anthem “So’ già du’ ore”.

Who played for Lazio

Garella, Ammoniaci, Ghedin, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli, Giordano, Lopez, Badiani