A great start to the New Year

Season 1996-97

Game 15, Serie A

Sunday, January 5, 1997

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Milan 3-0

A rare thrashing of Sacchi's Milan gives Lazio perfect start to 1997

The Serie A campaign had started badly with two defeats (Bologna and Udinese) but then improved albeit without great consistency. The Biancocelesti had so far won 5, drawn 4 (including derby 0-0 and Inter 1-1 away) and lost 5. The Roman Eagles were on 19 points, in mid-table.

Lazio were also out of both cups, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup. In the domestic competition Lazio had defeated Avellino 1-0 and Verona 2-1, both away but then fallen to Napoli 1-2 on aggregate in the quarter finals. In Europe, after getting revenge on Lens 2-1 on aggregate, Lazio were dumped out by Tenerife 4-5 on aggregate. The 5-3 defeat in Spain in particular, after coming back three times, was to bring up the first serious doubts in Zemanlandia in Rome.

Milan had won the Scudetto the previous season under Fabio Capello. This season Capello had left for Real Madrid to become Don Fabio. The new manager (officially T.D) was Uruguayan Óscar Tabarez but he had been sacked after 11 games and Arrigo Sacchi had returned. In fact, the start of the season had not been great with 4 defeats in the first 11 games, a 2-3 defeat at Piacenza had then been fatal for "El Maestro". Since Sacchi's return Milan had won the first two but then lost at home to Parma just before the Christmas break. The Rossoneri were on 21 points, two ahead of Lazio.

So, all in all definitely not a great season by the "Diavolo's" recent high standards.

A golden opportunity for Lazio to try and get a prestigious win.

The match

A crowd of 40,000 turned up on this cold and humid January, Sunday evening.

Both sides had a long list of absences. Lazio were without striker Igor Protti, midfielder Paul Okon and, above all, defender Alessandro Nesta, while defender José Antonio Chamot was on the bench with some flu symptoms. Milan were even worse off and had to do without defenders Paolo Maldini, Billy Costacurta and Mauro Tassotti, midfielder Zvonimir Boban plus forwards George Weah and Marco Simone.

Luckily both sides still had enough quality players to guarantee a high-level spectacle.

The early stages were evenly balanced, but Lazio were far more direct, with two or three passes they were threatening while Milan's moves were far more laborious in their build up.

Roberto Baggio was lively but isolated up front, even he could not dribble his way through the entire Lazio defence. He also had a free kick opportunity from the edge of the box but his curling shot went over the bar.

As mentioned, Lazio with a few passes could create danger. From a defensive clearance Gigi Casiraghi found himself in front of Rossi but too far out and his first-time effort went well wide. It was however a warning sign for Milan.

In the 22nd minute Roberto Rambaudi headed forward from just outside his own area, the ball reached Diego Fuser, he found Casiraghi in midfield who then put a brilliant ball cutting through Milan's defence and Signori ran onto it, went round Rossi and from a slight angle scored. Lazio 1 Milan 0. Three passes from their area and Signori was one-on-one with the keeper.

Baggio continued his personal dribbling show but couldn't find Edgar Davids properly in the area. Then Casiraghi messed up in midfield losing possession and Davids put Dejan Savicevic in a goal scoring position just inside the area but his left foot went just wide.

Lazio again with one through ball had a huge chance. Signori was plain clear, but still outside the area, Rossi came off his line to the area's limit and Signori lobbed him, it was a good effort but the keeper's height (1.97 metres) enabled him to stretch and catch the ball.

Then it was Milan who threatened. A long ball from Franco Baresi was headed by Savicevic to Massimo Ambrosini just inside the area but his powerful left shot was parried by Luca Marchegiani.

Just before halftime, Lazio doubled their lead. In the 45th minute Rambaudi was given too much space on the break and he ran forward undisturbed before putting a cross over Michael Reizinger's head to Casiraghi, whose low volleyed scissor kick hit both posts and then went in. An amazing goal, if it had been scored by someone more fashionable it would have gone viral as they say. More importantly Lazio 2 Milan 0 at halftime.

There were no changes during the break, and early in the second half Milan predictably pushed forward. Davids had a long range shot comfortably saved by Marchegiani. Then Savicevic skilfully went through Lazio's defence but then pulled the ball wide with his wrong foot. One of Milan's problems seemed to be that Baggio and Savicevic played individually but rarely together.

In the 55th minute Lazio practically put the game to rest. On a corner from the left, Alessandro Grandoni on the near post headed the ball in past Rossi. Lazio 3 Milan 0.

Milan then gradually made several changes, in the 58th minute Christophe Dugarry and Jesper Blomqvist for Stefano Eranio and Davids and in the 67th minute Francesco Coco for Christian Panucci.

Milan attacked but still with solo efforts, Savicevic had a long range shot but it was predictable and central and caught by Marchegiani.

At this point, Lazio had acres of space on the counter attack. On a long ball from midfield Casiraghi chested it down and became the assist man for Rambaudi, teeing up the winger in front of goal, but Rossi parried well. Then Rambaudi went down the right and squared back to Fuser who fired towards goal, but Rossi saved into corner.

Lazio too then made some substitutions, in the 75th minute Signori came off for José Chamot and in the 82nd Giorgio Venturin replaced a positive Roberto Baronio.

Savicevic continued his solitary quest for a goal but again misfired with his right foot after gliding past Lazio’s defenders. Milan's last attempt for a consolation goal was with Dugarry but his high close-range shot was parried by Marchegiani and then put into corner by Beppe Favalli. Final score Lazio 3 Milan 0.

An excellent win for Lazio. The Biancocelesti had looked fitter, sharper and much more direct in their approach. Milan had the excuse of some important absences but their moves seemed either too slow and complex or too much down to individual initiatives. They had to find a better balance or at least get Baggio and Savicevic to pass the ball to each other.

Lazio leapfrogged Milan in the table and, more importantly for the fans, they also overtook Roma who had lost 1-3 to Inter. A good start to the New Year for Lazio who were now up to 8th.

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Fish, Grandoni, Favalli, Fuser, Baronio (82' Venturin), Nedved, Rambaudi, Casiraghi, Signori (75' Chamot)