March 14, 1993: Lazio Milan 2-2
- Simon Basten
- Mar 14
- 5 min read
Almost won
Lazio deserved more but a point is a point
Also on this day:
The season so far
The arrival of Sergio Cragnotti meant lots of money for the summer transfers. Four players from the Italy Under-21 that had been doing so well arrived (Beppe Favalli, Dario Marcolin, Mauro Bonomi, all from Cremonese, and Luca Luzardi from Brescia), plus Aron Winter (Ajax), Roberto Cravero (Torino), Diego Fuser (Milan) and Beppe Signori (Foggia) replacing Ruben Sosa who had decided not to renew his contract and had left for Inter. Furthermore, finally Paul Gascoigne had recovered from his injury. Leaving Lazio were Raffaele Sergio (Torino), captain Gabriele Pin (Parma), Claudio Vertova (Lecco) and Stefano Melchiori (Lecce).
There was great optimism, but Lazio had started slowly with four consecutive draws, with the first win coming in the fifth match thanks to a Signori hat-trick. Yes, Signori, the guy who replaced Ruben Sosa. The Uruguayan had been one of the Lazio stars, but Signori was better, faster, younger and hungrier. And he scored loads of goals.
Lazio played well, Gascoigne, despite some ups and downs, gave a good contribution to the team and Signori. His goal in the dying moments of his first derby was legendary.
In Coppa Italia Lazio reached the quarterfinals but were knocked out by Torino.
The squad was young but after 21 matches Lazio were joint fourth with Juventus and Atalanta, in UEFA Cup qualification territory.
The match: Sunday, March 14, 1993, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
There was a lot of expectation especially since the seemingly unbeatable Rossoneri had lost against Roma in Coppa Italia just a few days earlier. A win was possible. In the first minute Diego Fuser crossed from the right, Beppe Signori tried a volley which was too wide. Another Signori shot in the 7th minute was saved by Sebastiano Rossi. Then in the 10th minute Milan went ahead. Jean-Pierre Papin from 30 meters gave the ball a massive whack which ended in the top left hand corner. After attempts from Signori and Paul Gascoigne, all very well saved by Rossi, Milan made it two in the 38th minute. Zvonimir Boban tried a long pass to Daniele Massaro in the box, the ball hit the back of Aron Winter’s head catching Nando Orsi unawares. 2-0 for Milan, completely against the run of play.
A minute later Lazio reduced the deficit. Fuser to Roberto Bacci on the right, cross in the middle and Gazza scored.
In the second half Lazio attacked as if there was no tomorrow, Milan were unable to complete two passes in a row. In the 46th minute Gazza dribbled past half the Rossoneri but his shot was weak. In the 79th a Signori attempt was marvellously saved by Rossi.
The Biancocelesti continued to press and in the 86th minute they finally managed to break down the Milan defence. Giovanni Stroppa from the left sent a good cross into the box and Cristiano Bergodi headed the ball in. Lazio deserved more but a point is a point , especially against Milan.
Who played for Lazio
Orsi, Bacci, Favalli, Sclosa (74' Stroppa), Bergodi, Cravero, Fuser, Doll, Winter, Gascoigne, Signori
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Milan
Rossi, Gambaro, Maldini, Albertini, Costacurta, Baresi, Lentini, Eranio, Papin (46' Simone, 65' De Napoli), Boban, Massaro
Substitutes: Cudicini, Nava, Evani
Manager: Capello
Referee: Boggi
Goals: 10' Papin, 38' Winter (og), 39' Gascoigne, 86' Bergodi
What happened next
Lazio finally managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup. The last time they had played in Europe was in 1977. In the penultimate match a 4-3 victory against Napoli clinched the qualification.
Lazio had a great potential, but only sporadically fulfilled it. The fans began to be impatient with Dino Zoff’s football and Lazio’s chronic lack of a game plan beyond leaving the decisions on what to do on the pitch to the players.
Fortunately, Gascoigne, Thomas Doll, Winter, Signori and Riedle were of a high enough level to compensate.
Diego Fuser and Signori played the most matches of the season (38) and Signori had the most goals (32). He was the leading Serie A goal scorer with 26 goals. The last time a Lazio player won this trophy was Bruno Giordano back in 1978.
Dino Zoff was confirmed as manager for the next season.
Let's talk about Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi is one of the best Italian footballers ever. A fantastic central defender, he was the backbone of the Milan team that won everything in Italy and Europe.
Let’s have a look at his trophies:
Scudetto: 6 (1978-79, 1987-88, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96)
Serie B: 2 (1980-81, 1982-83)
Supercoppa: 4 (1988, 1992, 1993, 1994)
Champions League: 3 (1988-89, 1989-90, 1993-94)
UEFA Super Cup: 2 (1990, 1994)
Intercontinental Cup: 2 (1989, 1990)
Mitropa Cup: 1 (1981-82)
World Cup: 1 (1982)
Born on May 8, 1960, in Travagliato near Brescia, he started playing football in the Milan youth teams. He had been tried out at Inter, where his brother Giuseppe was playing, but they thought nothing of him.
He debuted in Serie A on April 28, 1978, at just 17 years of age. The next season he was in the first eleven as manager Nils Liedholm preferred him to Ramon Turone. That year Milan won the scudetto.
When Milan were relegated due to the totonero scandal, he was one of the few who decided to stay. He became captain at 22 and was part of the Italian squad that won the World Cup in Spain in 1982 (but he never played).
With the arrival of Arrigo Sacchi, Milan won the 1987-88 Scudetto and two European Cups. Once Sacchi left and the team was given to Fabio Capello, Milan became invincible. The defensive back four, Mauro Tassotti, Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta and Paolo Maldini, with Marcel Desailly as defensive midfielder, were impenetrable, like hitting against a brick wall. They did not lose for a record 58 league games in a row and won 3 consecutive league titles.
Baresi retired in 1997 after 719 appearances for Milan with 33 goals.
He played a total of 81 games for Italy (1 goal) and participated in the World Cups of 1982 (but did not play), 1990 and 1994. He missed the 1986 world cup in Mexico because he had a heated argument with Enzo Bearzot since the latter insisted he played at midfield and he refused. In 1990 Italy came third and in 1994 second, losing out in the final penalty shoot-out. He missed the first spot kick.
After retirement he started working for the club and then had a very brief stint as sporting director for Fulham in 2002. He left after 81 days due to contrasts with manager Jean Tigana. He went back to Milan and was first head coach of the primavera and then the Berretti team (15-19 years of age). In 2017 he was nominated brand ambassador and in 2020 became honorary vice president of the club.
Baresi was a powerful defender, elegant, strong and a commanding presence in the back four. A true professional, he was one of the best defenders the world has ever seen.
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