A point but not much else
A tactical and rough game without much goal action ends up goalless
Also on this day: March 11, 1979, Lazio Ascoli 3-1. Ascoli better side in first half but two “Bruno gol” second half strikes give Lazio hard earned win. Player of the day: Paolo Ammoniaci
The season so far
Lazio were finally back in Serie A after three difficult years in the second division, the "purgatory "of Serie B.
The legendary Giorgio Chinaglia was back as President with promises of massive American partners investing in Lazio's bright future.
The summer market had seen major changes to the squad. The main arrivals were defenders Daniele Filisetti (Atalanta), Massimo Piscedda (back from loan-Sanremese), midfielders Joāo Batista (Palmeiras and Brazilian national), Angelo Cupini (Cavese), Rinaldo Piraccini (Pistoiese), Claudio Vinazzani (Napoli) plus forward Michael Laudrup (loan for 2 years- Juventus).
So, apart from a young Laudrup and the experience of Batista, not much to get excited about, but at this point the Laziali had blind faith in Long John Chinaglia. Giancarlo Morrone, who had substituted Roberto Clagluna towards the end of the previous season, had been confirmed.
Leaving Lazio were several Serie B faithful: keeper Maurizio Moscatelli (Cavese- he never really recovered from his serious injury), defenders Ernesto Calisti (loan-Cavese), Carlo Perrone and Paolo Pochesci (both to Ascoli), Marco Saltarelli (Monza), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Vigor Senigallia), Maurizio Montesi (retired), Roberto Tavola (end of loan-Juventus), forwards Claudio Ambu (Monza), Stefano Chiodi (Prato) and Leonardo Surro (Siena).
No great losses for various reasons: injuries (Moscatelli and Montesi), age (Badiani), unfulfilled potential (Pochesci, Perrone and Saltarelli) or lack of Serie A quality (Chiodi, Tavola and Surro). The one player Lazio fans were extremely sad to see leave was Enrico Vella when he left in the autumn for Atalanta.
Whatever opinion was given to the squad, Lazio came into the season with great enthusiasm and packed out the Olimpico in the early games. The long-awaited return to Serie A and even more so that of Chinaglia was enough to excite even the most laid-back fans.
In Coppa Italia, in August and early September, Lazio had been eliminated in a group with Catanzaro 0-0, Perugia 2-0, Taranto 0-1, Bari 0-0 and Juventus 1-1.
So far, the season in Serie A had, as expected, been difficult. Lazio had lost the first two but then surprisingly crushed Inter 3-0 at home. It was an illusion as Lazio then struggled.
In December, Morrone was replaced by Paolo Carosi and things were not helped by Bruno Giordano breaking his leg at Ascoli on December 31. After the 15 away fixtures the Biancocelesti were 15th (out of 16), on 9 points, but only 2 from safety. In the first 6 return games Lazio had then picked up 7 points (including two wins, an away draw at Inter and a recent draw in the derby in ten men). There was still hope.
Lazio were currently 12th, on 16 points but on the same points as Napoli and Avellino who occupied the 3rd bottom slot.
The table was not a pretty sight: Catania 9, Genoa 13, Avellino 16, Napoli 16, Lazio 16, Pisa 17.
Today's game was difficult but not impossible as Milan were having a mediocre season.
Milan had won the Serie B championship the previous year, under Ilario Castagner.
This year Castagner was still the manager. The main new players were defenders Filippo Galli (Pescara), Eric Gerets (Standard Liège), Luciano Spinosi (Verona), Gabriello Carotti (Ascoli), midfielders Andrea Manzo (Fiorentina) and forward Luther Blissett (Watford).
Leaving were defender Nazzareno Canuti (Inter-end of loan), midfielders Stefano Cuoghi (Modena), Tiziano Manfrin (Pistoiese), Francesco Romano (Triestina), Giancarlo Pasinato (Inter-end of loan) plus forwards Joe Jordan (Verona) and Aldo Serena (Inter-end of loan).
In Serie A, Milan were currently in 8th position, on 22 points. They had won 6 (including Lazio 4-1), drawn 8 and lost 6 (including derby 0-2) They were winless since January 15 (Avellino 1-0 at home) and in the last match had drawn 1-1 away at Sampdoria. Blissett had not been a great success so far and had only scored 3 goals. Top scorer was Oscar "Flipper" Damiani with 6.
In Coppa Italia they had qualified to the quarterfinals to be played in June. In the group phase, in August/ September, the Rossoneri had won 3 (Padova 2-0, Atalanta 2-0, both away and Rimini 3-1 at home) and drawn 2 (Arezzo 0-0 away and Roma 1-1 at home). Then in the last 16 they had defeated Vicenza 3-1 on aggregate. Milan would play Roma on June 7 and 10 for a place in the semis.
The match: Sunday, March 11, 1984, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A big crowd of 60,000 were present for this big match. Lazio were playing with black armbands in memory of historic director Luigi Bezzi who had recently passed away.
Lazio were still without injured Bruno Giordano and Lionello Manfredonia suspended while Milan were missing Eric Gerets and Oscar Damiani.
Both sides started off cautiously and the game was extremely blocked with more fouls than football.
The first shot at goal was Lazio’s from a central freekick after four minutes but Vincenzo D'Amico found the right power but not the precision and Ottorino Piotti caught it low. He then had a second freekick but it went wide.
Milan had no real chances, only potential ones but Fernando Orsi was safe on a couple of dangerous crosses.
The game was unspectacular but rough with several tough and dirty tackles. In the 35th minute Massimo Piscedda was forced off injured and replaced by Renato Miele. Franco Baresi also came out worse for wear from a challenge, twisting his knee. Half time Lazio 0 Milan 0.
The big crowd were not getting much value for their money so far.
For the second half Baresi did not reappear and was replaced by Luciano Spinosi.
The break did not change the team's game plans and there was little to get excited about in the second 45 minutes either.
Michael Laudrup showed his skills a few times but on his most dangerous run D'Amico was just anticipated before shooting.
Milan had a Giuseppe Incocciati goal disallowed for offside and then towards the end of the 90 minutes had a colossal chance to steal the two points. Andrea Icardi was freed on the right-hand side of the area and squared a perfect ball to Vinicio Verza, no more than five metres out in front of goal, but the midfielder astonishingly blasted it over the bar. An opportunity easier to score than miss but, thankfully for Lazio, the former Juventus player had gone for the difficult option. Final score Lazio 0 Milan 0.
A very tactical game with a lot of running and physicality but not much action. A disappointing spectacle for the 60,000 faithful.
A point however was better than nothing for Lazio who late on had also been seriously let off with Verza missing a sitter. One worry was Piscedda's injury and Claudio Vinazzani's booking which would lead to a suspension in a midfield already missing Manfredonia.
Some good news however came from the other matches, Pisa, Napoli and Genoa had lost while Avellino had drawn. The table now read Catania 10, Genoa 13, Napoli 16, Pisa 17, Avellino 17, Lazio 17.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Spinozzi, Filisetti, Piscedda (35' Miele), Batista, Podavini, Vinazzani, Piraccini, D'Amico (72' Cupini), Laudrup, Marini
Substitutes: Ielpo, Piga, Meluso
Manager: Carosi
Who played for Milan
Piotti, Tassotti, Evani, Icardi, Galli, Baresi (46' Spinosi), Carotti, Battistini, Blissett, Verza, Incocciati
Substitutes: Nuciari, Russo, Tacconi, Manzo
Manager: Castagner
Referee: Barbaresco
What happened next
A week later Lazio lost 0-3 at Avellino. The Biancocelesti then beat Torino 1-0 and drew 1-1 at Catania.
Then star striker Giordano returned from injury. On April 15, away to Fiorentina, Bruno-Gol finally came back and 10,000 Lazio fans travelled up to Florence to witness the event, he even scored but Lazio lost 2-3.
Lazio then won at home against Napoli 3-2, lost at Udine 0-2 and then won a crucial home game against Ascoli 2-1.
So, it all came down to the final game under the leaning tower of Pisa. Catania and Pisa were already down while Genoa on 23 and Lazio on 24 still had hope. Only one of them would stay up. Genoa had Juventus at home but the Bianconeri had already won and celebrated the league title. Lazio however had the advantage in the head-to-head matches, having won 2-1 in Rome and drawn 0-0 in Genova.
A mass exodus of Lazio fans accompanied the team to Tuscany. The Arena Garibaldi was almost entirely light blue and white.
Lazio managed to draw 2-2 with two goals by Giordano so, despite Genoa beating Juventus 2-1, the Biancocelesti reached the agonised target of staying in Serie A.
Milan finished 6th, on 32 points. A week later the Rossoneri drew the derby 0-0 then drew 2-2 in Florence after which Castagner was sacked and replaced by Italo Galbiati. In the last six games, they won 3, drew 2 and lost 2. Top scorer was Oscar Damiani with 11 goals (7 in A).
In Coppa Italia, the Diavoli were eliminated by Roma 2-3 after extra-time.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 21st time. As mentioned, the three clubs Lazio had managed to avoid as travelling companions to Serie B were Catania, Pisa and Genoa.
Lazio 1983-84
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 35 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Total | 35 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 38 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Laudrup | 35 | 30 | 5 |
Vinazzani | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Spinozzi | 32 | 27 | 5 |
Manfredonia | 31 | 26 | 5 |
Batista | 30 | 25 | 5 |
D'Amico | 30 | 25 | 5 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Laudrup | 8 | 8 | - |
D'Amico | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Giordano | 8 | 8 | - |
Manfredonia | 4 | 4 | - |
Cupini | 3 | 3 | - |
Let’s talk about Rinaldo Piraccini
Rinaldo Piraccini was born in Stresa (Piedmont), on December 14, 1958.
His youth career was spent at Omegna (near Stresa) between 1970 and 1975.
In 1975 he made his debut for the first team. The Rossoneri were in Serie D and finished 2nd, then losing the playoff against Biellese. Piraccini then stayed two more seasons and the Cusiani finished 1st (promoted to C1) and 17th (relegated to new C2). He played 59 league games and scored 4 goals over the three seasons.
In 1978-79 he spent a season at Mantova in C1. The manager was Ugo Tomeazzi and the Biancorossi finished 13th. Piraccini played 30 league games with 1 goal.
In 1979 he moved south to Foggia in C1. The manager was first Giorgio Sereni and then Ettore Puricelli and the "Satanelli" (Little Devils) won promotion. The following year under Puccinelli the Rossoneri finished 10th in B. Piraccini played 70 league games with 2 goals.
In 1981 he joined Pistoiese in Serie B. The Orange finished 14th under Lauro Toneatto. The following year the Tuscans finished 14th again under Enzo Riccomini. Piraccini played a total of 59 league games with 1 goal. His teammates included former Lazio, Pietro Ghedin (1974-79, 1980-81) and Stefano Borgo (1973-74, 1975-76).
In 1983-84 he moved to the capital and signed for Lazio in Serie A. The Romans were newly promoted and the manager was first Juan Carlos Morrone and then Paolo Carosi, both former players. It was a difficult year, but Lazio managed to avoid relegation on the last day of the season. Piraccini played 16 league games.
The following year he moved on and returned to Pistoiese in Serie C1. The "Olandesina" got through three managers and ended up relegated. Piraccini played 21 league games with 2 goals. His teammates included former Lazio, Maurizio Moscatelli (1980-83), future top manager Gian Piero Gasperini and future Italian international Luigi Appolloni (runner up in USA '94 and 304 games for Parma).
In 1985 Piraccini joined Varese in C1. The manager was Giorgio Canali and then Luigi Balestra and the Biancorossi were relegated. He played 28 league games. His teammates included a young Giovanni Lopez (Lazio 1997-98 and assistant manager 2010-12).
In 1986-87 Piraccini played a season with Modena in Serie B. The manager was Luigi Mascalaito and the Canarini finished 11th. Piraccini started to suffer from physical problems and only played 3 league games. One of his teammates was keeper Marco Ballotta (Lazio 1997-2000, 2005-2008).
In 1987-88 Piraccini played for Brindisi in Serie C1. The manager was first Giuseppe Leo and then Giancarlo Ansaloni and the Adriatici finished 14th. Piraccini was again limited by injuries and only played 6 league games with 1 goal
In 1988-88 he played a season for Rovereto in Interregionale (5th tier). The "Zebrette" finished 7th and he played 22 league games with 2 goals.
In 1989-90 he was back with Modena in Serie C1. The manager was Renzo Ulivieri (future Bologna, Napoli, Cagliari, Parma, Torino amongst others) and the Gialloblu won the league Piraccini played 28 league games. The squad included two other future managers, Walter Mazzarri and Franco Colomba.
In 1990 Piraccini joined Novara in Serie C2. He stayed two seasons finishing 6th and 11th. The Azzurri manager was Enrico Nicolini and Piraccini played a total of 50 league games.
He then played two more years but at amateur level with Intra (Verbania-Piedmont), with 59 games and 4 goals.
He then retired at 35.
He went straight into a coaching career but always at amateur level. He has had spells at Borgomanero, Gravellona, Verbania, Intra, Solbiatese and Valdossola, so always in his Piedmont.
Piraccini was a midfielder. He was a left-footed and quite technical player but a bit light-. He played 98 games in Serie B with 2 goals and 16 in Serie A, all with Lazio.
At Lazio he only stayed one season and it was the highpoint of his career. He played his fair share of games and contributed to Lazio avoiding relegation. The highlight of the season was defeating Inter 3-0, a game in which Piraccini was the assist man for Angelo Cupini for Lazio's second goal.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A appearances |
1983-84 | 16 |
Sources
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