Lazio limit defending champions
A Sosa penalty levels after Van Basten's lead
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous year Lazio had finally won promotion back to Serie A. In June, in a packed Olimpico already under renovation for Italia '90, Lazio had beaten Taranto 3-1 to book their place back in the big time.
The new season started with a new manager. The -9-point deduction and promotion hero Eugenio Fascetti had left and in had come Giuseppe Materazzi.
Lazio’s promotion top scorer Paolo Monelli (13 goals) had also gone (Bari) along with midfielders Vincenzo Esposito (Atalanta) and Domenico Caso (Latina) while loaned forward Giuseppe Galderisi had returned to his original club (Milan) after a disappointing spell at Lazio.
Lazio fans were very sad to see Fascetti leave and he would never be forgotten but they also had reasons to be optimistic. Lazio were out of the purgatory of Serie B and had bought some interesting players.
Three South-Americans for a start; relatively unknown (pre-internet days) defender Nelson Gutierrez (River Plate) and Abel Dezotti (Newell's Old Boys) plus better known and promising forward Ruben Sosa (Real Zaragoza). Lazio had also signed some Italians: defender Marco Monti (Virescit Bergamo) plus midfielders Andrea Icardi (Atalanta) and Claudio Sclosa (Pisa).
Lazio’s objective this season was to enjoy their new elite status and hopefully not have to suffer excessively to maintain it.
So far Lazio had played 19 games. The Biancocelesti had won 2, drawn 11 and lost 6. They were on 15 points and in joint 12th place with Cesena but only one point above the relegation zone. The highlight was beating Roma on January 15 with a Paolo Di Canio winner. It was Lazio’s first derby win for ten years. Lazio however were having difficulty winning games as the eleven draws testify. A week before today's game Lazio had lost 3-4 away to Torino and today came another difficult challenge against reigning champions A.C Milan
In Coppa Italia, in August and September, Lazio had qualified from the first group stage winning 3 (Licata 3-0, Campobasso 2-0 and Messina 4-3) and losing 2 (Pescara 1-2 and Milan 1-2). In the second-round group stage, Lazio had surprisingly beaten Fiorentina 1-0, drawn 1-1 with Inter and then beaten Udinese 1-0. In the quarter finals, Lazio had been knocked out in January by Atalanta 3-4 on aggregate. Abel Dezotti had scored 6 cup goals and Ruben Sosa 4.
Milan had won the Scudetto the previous year under Arrigo Sacchi. A great team with the likes of Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Carlo Ancelotti, Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten just to mention a few.
This season Sacchi was still on the bench. The Rossoneri had added another great Dutchman to the squad, Frank Rijkaard (Sporting Lisbon). The main player leaving was forward Daniele Massaro who had joined Roma on loan in the autumn transfer window.
This season things were not going quite as well in the league. Milan were currently in 4th place on 24 points, 8 behind leaders Inter. The Devils had won 9, drawn 6 (including Lazio 0-0) and lost 4 (including derby 0-1). A week earlier however they had trounced Pescara 6-1 at home.
Things were going better in Europe. Milan had eliminated Vitoša Sofia 7-2 and Red Star Belgrade on penalties (after two 1-1 draws). A few days earlier they had played the quarter final away tie to Werder Bremen and drawn 0-0. The return game in Milan was on March 15.
In Coppa Italia in the first group stage they had won 4 (including Lazio 2-1 at home) and drawn 1 but had then been eliminated in the second group stage after 1 win (Sambenedettese 3-0 away), 1 draw (Verona 1-1 at home) and 1 defeat (Torino 0-1 away).
Milan looked as if they were giving priority to Europe this year but they were still favourites this afternoon.
The match: Sunday, March 5, 1989, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny, spring-like day gathered about 45,000 at the Olimpico.
Lazio only had Claudio Sclosa unavailable.
Milan dominated the game early on. They constantly had the ball and Lazio's only weapon seemed to be Rubén Sosa on the counter attack.
Lazio's keeper Silvano Martina was a little distracted early on, in the 8th minute he was saved by Nelson Gutiérrez and in the 22nd he fumbled a Roberto Donadoni effort. Donadoni had another shot go over the bar and Martina then parried well on a Paolo Maldini strike.
In the 23rd minute Milan scored. Ruud Gullit powered down the right and crossed into the middle where Marco Van Basten headed in to Martina's left. Lazio 0 Milan 1.
Milan seemed in control but in the 35th minute came the unexpected. Frank Rikjaard made a rare but bad defensive error and the ball reached Sosa who raced forward and was pulled down in the area by Gullit. The Uruguayan then slotted in the penalty to Galli's left. Lazio 1 Milan 1.
Lazio went back into their own half and reached the break still level. A first half more or less dominated by Milan who had been let down by one defensive mistake.
For the second half Milan brought on Angelo Colombo for an invisible Pietro Paolo Virdis. Bringing on a midfielder meant Gullit played further forward. This was actually where Materazzi had expected the Dutchman to play from the start so Lazio's game plan became more effective and Milan lost creativity in midfield.
Milan still pushed forward but also appeared little tired after their mid-week trip to Germany.
In the 54th minute however Gullit hit the crossbar with a freekick. Lazio responded with a free kick of their own but Andrea Icardi's powerful effort was well over the bar.
Alberico Evani then hit the side netting with a left-footed drive from the edge of the box.
Lazio then had a huge chance on the break. Raimondo Marino entered the area on the right and had only the keeper to beat but instead of shooting went for a pass to Sosa who was anticipated in the middle.
In the 75th minute a blistering long range shot by Evani hit the crossbar again.
In the 79th minute Lazio replaced midfielder Antonio Elia Acerbis with forward Gustavo Dezotti.
The game however had said what it had to say. Milan ran out of energy and Lazio were pleased with a point. Final score Lazio 1 Milan 1.
A good point for Lazio who had battled hard against superior opponents. Milan had not been at their best and not lucky, committing a huge defensive error and hitting the woodwork twice. Sacchi had also possibly helped Lazio by changing the tactical setup in the second half.
Lazio were now solitary 12th but with a two-point cushion on the last B places (Torino and Como on 14).
Milan were still 4th but now 9 points behind leaders Inter.
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Marino, Monti, Pin, Gregucci, Gutiérrez, Beruatto, Icardi, Di Canio, Acerbis (79' Dezotti), Sosa
Manager: Materazzi
Who played for Milan
Galli, Tassotti, Maldini, Ancelotti, Rijkaard, Baresi, Donadoni, Evani, Van Basten, Gullit, Virdis (46' Colombo)
Substitutes: Pinato, Costacurta, Mussi, Mannari
Manager: Sacchi
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 24' Van Basten, 35' Sosa (pen)
What happened next
Lazio finished 11th. The Biancocelesti flirted with relegation but ultimately a 1-0 home win against Sampdoria and an away draw at Ascoli avoided any nasty surprises.
In the end Lazio won 5, drew 19 (including derby) and lost 10. Top scorer was Rubén Sosa with 12 (8 in A, out of 23...)
A respectable first season back. Lazio were solid and not easy to beat but had to be more clinical and transform some of the draws into wins. The relegation zone was only two points away but Europe was only five the other way. The season however was to be considered a success, firstly for staying up and secondly for that fantastic derby win in January, giving Lazio the inebriating joy of defeating city rivals after ten long years.
Milan finished 3rd. In the next game they thrashed Juventus at home and then went unbeaten in the remaining fixtures, winning 6 and drawing 7 (including derby 0-0). Top scorer was Van Basten with 33 goals (19 in A).
They made up for it in the European Cup. In the return match against Werder Bremen they won 1-0, then eliminated Real Madrid 6-1 (with an epic 5-0 at San Siro) and in the final trounced Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in Barcelona. It was the Rossoneri's 3rd title and first for twenty years.
In June they also won the Italian Supercoppa beating Sampdoria 3-1.
In Serie A, Inter won their 13th Scudetto while Como, Pisa, Pescara and Torino descended to second tier football.
Let's talk about Carlo Ancelotti
Carlo Ancelotti was born in Reggiolo (Reggio-Emilia) on June 10, 1959.
He started his football with local side Reggiolo and then at 16 moved to the Parma youth sector.
He made his professional debut for Parma in the 1976-77 season. He stayed three seasons, all in Serie C, playing 63 games and scoring 15 goals. In his last season he helped the Gialloblu win promotion to Serie B with a brace in the final play-off against Triestina.
In 1979 he signed for Roma. He stayed eight seasons with the Giallorossi, winning a Scudetto in 1983 and the Coppa Italia four times. In 1984 Roma also reached the European Cup final in Rome but lost on penalties to Liverpool after a 1-1 draw. Ancelotti played 227 games for Roma with 17 goals. In 1981-82 he played very little due to a serious knee injury which also made him miss the 1982 World Cup. His main managers were both Swedish, Nils Liedholm (1979-84) and Sven-Goran Eriksson (1984-87).
In 1987 Ancelotti joined Milan. Ancelotti stayed for five glorious seasons. The manager was Arrigo Sacchi for four and Fabio Capello in the last. The Rossoneri won the Scudetto twice, the European Cup twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice, the Intercontinental Cup twice and the Italian Supercoppa. These were the years of the great Milan with players such as Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Roberto Donadoni, Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten just to name a few. Ancelotti played 160 games and scored 11 goals (including a cracking long-range goal against future club Real Madrid in a 5-0 thrashing).
He won 26 caps for Italy and scored 1 goal (Holland in the 1981 Mundialito). As mentioned he missed the 1982 triumph but took part in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups and the 1988 European Championship.
He retired at 33 but the best was yet to come.
He became a coach and started as assistant to Arrigo Sacchi with Italy from 1992 to 1995.
In 1995 he took over at Reggiana and won promotion to Serie A.
In 1996 he moved to Parma in Serie A. He stayed two seasons finishing 2nd and 6th. Parma had some great players; Buffon, Cannavaro, Thuram, Brolin, Zola, Crespo, Melli and Chiesa amongst others.
In February 1999 he was called up by Juventus to replace Marcello Lippi. He was not a popular choice with the fans due to his club allegiances in his playing days. He stayed two and a half seasons. In the first the Bianconeri finished 7th and reached the Champions League semi-final, in the second they finished 2nd (famously losing Scudetto to Lazio in the last game of the season) and then 2nd again (this time behind Roma).
Ancelotti then returned to Milan. In November 2001 he replaced Fatih Terim and stayed eight seasons. The Rossoneri won a Scudetto, the Champions League twice, the European Super Cup twice, the Italian Supercoppa, the Coppa Italia and a World Cup for clubs.
Ancelotti then left Italy and in 2009 joined Chelsea. He stayed two seasons, in the first he won the domestic double (league title and FA Cup) while in the second the Blues finished 2nd behind Manchester United. His players included Čech, Terry, Essien, Lampard, Ballack, Drogba, Malouda, Torres, Deco.
In January 2012 he took over from Antoine Kombouaré at Paris Saint Germain. He stayed that season and the next, finishing 2nd and then champions. His players included: Thiago Silva, Verratti, Lavezzi, Ibrahimović, Beckham.
In 2013 he joined Real Madrid for the first time. He stayed two seasons. In the first the Merengues finished 3rd but won the Champions League and the Copa del Rey while in the second they finished 2nd but won the FIFA World Cup for clubs and the UEFA Super Cup. His players included; Casillas, Pepe, Carvajal, Ramos, Marcelo, Bale, Casemiro, Xabi Alonso, Modrić, Khedira, Cristiano Ronaldo, Di Maria, Benzema just to name a few.
In 2016 he moved to the Bundesliga and joined Bayern Munich. He stayed one full season, winning the league title and the German Super Cup. In his second season he was sacked in September after a 0-3 defeat to PSG.
In 2018 he returned to Italy and signed for Napoli. The Partenopei finished 2nd. The following season he was replaced in December by Gennaro Gattuso with the club in 7th place but through in Champions League to the last 16.
Ancelotti's next club was Everton in the English Premier League. In December 2019 he took over from Duncan Ferguson and the Toffees finished 12th. The following year the Blues finished 10th.
At this point Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid and winning trophies. This is his fourth season back at "Los Blancos" and so far he has won two more Liga titles, two more Champions Leagues, a World Cup for clubs, two UEFA Super Cups, two Spanish Super Cups and a Copa del Rey.
An excellent player and a superb manager. He is nicknamed Carlo Magno and Re Carlo.
As a player he was a midfielder. He started further forward but then moved back to play as a deep lying playmaker. He was extremely strong physically with solid tackling skills but also good technique and a cracking shot.
As a manager he has become one of the all-time greats. His calm leadership qualities and his ability to mould players into a winning unit have won him respect and trophies all over Europe. He started as a Sacchi disciple but has learnt to adapt his tactical setups to the players he has. He is a winning coach but also much loved for his human qualities.
Professionally his records speak for themselves, they include;
only coach to have won all 5 major European leagues
most UEFA tournaments (11)
most Champions Leagues (5)
most UEFA Super Cups (5)
most matches in Champions League (215)
only coach to have won the Champions League twice with two different clubs
One could go on but he has not finished yet so they will probably have to be updated anyway...
Sources
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