Game 28, Serie B
Sunday, April 5, 1981
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Spal 2-0
Two goals by veteran Bigon keep the Biancocelesti on target for Serie A
So far Lazio had played 27 league games and won 10, drawn 14 and lost 3. Lazio had started well with 7 wins and 8 draws in the first 15 games but then slowed down. In the last 3 games however the Biancocelesti had drawn 2 and won 1 (a week earlier 3-1 away at Rimini). They were on 34 points, in second place behind Milan. Cesena however were only one point behind, Sampdoria two and Genoa four, with this afternoon's opposition from Ferrara. Lazio could not afford to lose today.
SPAL were having a good season and were joint 5th, only four points behind Lazio. So, an important game for both sides' promotion hopes today at the Olimpico.
The match
A bright, early April day gathered about 30,000 for this high table match.
Lazio were without defenders Arcadio Spinozzi and Paolo Pochesci, so they placed Giorgio Mastropasqua further back. SPAL were missing Pierluigi Giani who had scored 7 league goals so far.
Lazio attacked from the start but the visitors had some space on the break. Despite the Biancocelesti's territorial dominance, the first chance was for the Ferraresi. An Angelo Castronaro shot, set up by Rosario Rampanti, was saved well by Dario Marigo.
Lazio were slow in their build up but gradually started to have several opportunities to score. They even managed in the 23rd minute when Nando Viola's close-range header from a Stefano Chiodi cross beat Roberto Renzi. The referee, Agnolin, initially gave the goal but then disallowed it seeing the linesman's flag up.
The referee then waved away two penalty appeals, one per side. First Dario Pighin seemed to hold Oriano Grop back as he was stretching for a Rampanti assist and then Giuseppe Greco was pulled down by the keeper when he took advantage of a bad back pass by Alberto Cavasin. The referee was not interested on both occasions.
Half time was approaching when Lazio got the breakthrough. Claudio Simoni raced down the left wing and crossed, Greco's header then flicked the ball onto the post and it was hovering near the line when Alberto Bigon came in and made sure it went over. Lazio 1 SPAL 0.
All in all, a fair lead for Lazio who had done more and been more positive despite having difficulties in the last third where Chiodi was having a subdued afternoon.
For the second half the Estensi had to replace their keeper who had injured himself on Lazio’s penalty appeal.
The visitors barely had time to organise themselves to try and equalise, that Lazio scored again. In the 47th minute Filippo Citterio teed up Bigon in the area and the former Milan player chested it down and blasted a powerful mid-height shot past poor Gavioli who had just come on. A brilliant goal. Lazio 2 SPAL 0.
A goal just before halftime and one just after would be enough to demoralise many a team and SPAL proved no exception.
Lazio comfortably controlled the second period without running any particular risks. The only bad news came in the 71st minute when the match winner Bigon limped off with a knee injury after clashing with the visitors' keeper. Final score Lazio 2 SPAL 0.
A good win for the Biancocelesti against potential promotion rivals. Lazio's midfield in particular had impressed with Dario Sanguin in the middle and Simoni and Citterio on the flanks working well.
The table had improved slightly. Milan 39, Lazio 36, Cesena 35 (beat Taranto 1-0), Sampdoria 33 (drew 1-1 at Foggia), Genoa 32 (beat Bari 1-0) and SPAL 28.
Who played for Lazio
Marigo, Mastropasqua, Citterio, Perrone, Pighin, Simoni (58' Ghedin), Sanguin, Bigon (71' Manzoni), Chiodi, Viola, Greco
Substitutes: Di Benedetto, Cenci, Marronaro
Manager: Castagner
Who played for SPAL
Renzi (46' Gavioli), Cavasin, Ferrari, Ogliari, Albiero, Brilli (51' Gibellini), Bergossi, Castronaro, Grop, Rampanti, Tagliaferri
Substitutes: Miele, Gelain, Masuero
Manager: Rota
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 45' Bigon, 47' Bigon
Sources
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