The Piola factor punishes Juventus
An entertaining and balanced game is decided by Lazio's star striker
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 7th, first under Czech Walter Alt (1-27) and then Hungarian József Viola. Top scorer was Silvio Piola with 21 goals (19 in Serie A).
This year the Magyar coach Viola was kept on. The main new signings were midfielder Luigi Milano (Alessandria) and forwards Umberto Busani (Alessandria), Giovanni Costa (Vicenza) and Giovanni Riccardi (Alessandria).
Leaving were midfielders Attilio Ferraris IV (Bari), Francesco Gabriotti (retiring), Odoacre Pardini (retiring) and forwards Antonio Bisigato (Ambrosiana Inter), Anfilogino "Filó" Guarisi (Corinthians) and Virgilio Felice Levratto (Savona).
So far Lazio had played six games. The Biancocelesti had started well beating Milan 3-0, then they lost 1-4 at Genova 1893, beat Triestina 2-1, drew 1-1 with Bologna, beat Fiorentina 2-1 and then lost the derby 1-3. So won 3, drawn 1 and lost 2, an up and down start giving them 7 points in the table.
Juventus had finished 5th the previous season under manager and former player Virginio Rosetta (338 league games and 6 Scudetti with Juve and World Champion with Italy in 1934 as a player). The Bianconeri had beaten Lazio 2-1 in Turin but lost 0-3 in Rome.
This year "Viri" Rosetta was still manager. The squad was pretty much unchanged too. They had a former Lazio player Alfredo Foni on their books and had kept top scorer Guglielmo Gabetto.
So far, the Old Lady of Italian football had only won one match (Napoli 1-0 away), drawn 3 (Bari away, Lucchese and Ambrosiana Inter at home) and lost 2 (Alessandria 0-1 away and the derby 0-1 at home). The Bianconeri therefore had 5 points.
No clear favourites today. Lazio playing at home and two points ahead but it was early days and Juventus were always dangerous.
The match: Sunday, November 1, 1936, Stadio PNF, Rome
A grey November day only attracted 12,000 spectators to the Flaminio area of Rome for today's match.
Lazio were without defender Luigi Milano while the visitors had no absences.
The game was evenly balanced from the word go but Juventus attacked more.
In the 3rd minute Menti got away from Benedicto Zacconi but then hesitated and lost the moment. In the 4th minute the referee awarded Juventus a freekick from the edge of the box for a foul by Alfredo Monza. Felice Borel took it but it then came off Gabetto and hit the post. The Lazio keeper Giacomo Blason then saved two dangerous shots by Giacomo Neri.
In the 20th minute Lazio had a cracking shot by Silvio Piola go just wide and a few minutes later Bruno Camolese was tackled just before getting in a close-range shot. On the subsequent corner Giovanni Riccardi's header went close.
Then it was Juventus' turn to threaten again. Blason had to save from Cinzio Scagliotti and was then miraculous on a one-on-one with Gabetto. In the 38th minute De Petrini sent a shot onto the Parioli hill behind the stadium.
In the 39th minute Lazio scored on the break. The Juventus keeper came out to challenge Umberto Busani who pulled the ball back to Piola who bicycle kicked it to give Lazio the lead. Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
Juventus had a last chance in the 45th minute to equalise but Neri was stopped by a last-ditch Monza tackle in front of goal. Half time Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
An even contest so far with Piola making the difference.
The second half continued to see both teams have chances. In the 48th minute Giuseppe Baldo shot high for Lazio. In the 51st, following a series of corners, Gabetto got a header in but Blason saved. Juventus insisted with a powerful Neri strike but Blason was safe. Lazio then reacted but Ugo Amoretti punched away the danger and then in the 55th minute saved from a thundering Riccardi shot.
The game was end to end with potential or near chances for both sides. The next big opportunity was for Juventus in the 59th minute when Gabetto headed towards the corner of the goal but Blason with feline qualities dived and with the tips of his fingers kept the ball out.
Lazio then had four consecutive chances; a Riccardi shot saved in the 63rd minute, a Piola header saved in the 65th, a lucky save by Amoretti on Busani in the 68th and another save on Busani in the 69th.
At this point Juventus attacked constantly but Lazio were still active on the counter attack. In the 83rd minute Piola tried his luck from an unlikely angle and Amoretti saved.
Juventus piled on the pressure in the final minutes but Lazio stood firm and conquered an important and prestigious victory. Final score Lazio 1 Juventus 0.
An exciting game full of goal scoring opportunities. For the neutral observers a draw would possibly have been a fairer result but Lazio had Silvio Piola in their team and this was more often than not an important detail.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Viola
Who played for Juventus
Amoretti, Foni, Rava, Depetrini, Monti, Varglien II, Neri, Borel II, Gabetto, Scagliotti, Menti I
Manager: Rosetta
Referee: Bevilacqua
Goals: 39' Piola
What happened next
Lazio had an excellent season and finished 2nd. After the Juventus game they went unbeaten until January 21 (Milan 3-5 away) and ended the season with 17 wins, 5 draws and 8 defeats. Top scorer was Silvio Piola with 31 goals (21 in A- top scorer).
With second place the Biancocelesti qualified for the prestigious Central European Cup played between June and October. Lazio reached the final but were beaten by Ferencváros 6-9 on aggregate.
Juventus finished 5th again. After the Lazio defeat, they went unbeaten until February 7 (Torino 1-2) but then lost another three games before the end of the season and ended up four points behind Lazio. Top scorer was Gabetto again with 18 goals, all in A.
The league was won by Bologna, three points ahead of Lazio, for their 4th title. Not a good year for Piedmont as Alessandria and Novara were relegated to Serie B.
Lazio 1936-37
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 30 | 17 | 5 | 8 | 56 |
Coppa Italia | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
Mitropa Cup | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
Total | 35 | 19 | 6 | 10 | 68 |
Top appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
Baldo | 35 | 30 | 1 | 4 |
Busani | 34 | 29 | 1 | 4 |
Monza | 34 | 30 | - | 4 |
Zacconi | 34 | 30 | - | 4 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
Piola | 28 | 21 | - | 7 |
Busani | 17 | 15 | - | 2 |
Costa | 5 | 4 | - | 1 |
Riccardi | 5 | 5 | - | - |
Camolese | 4 | 4 | - | - |
Let's talk about Bruno Camolese
Bruno Camolese was born in Perarolo di Cadore (Belluno), on December 27, 1914.
He grew up in the Vicenza youth set up and made his debut for the first team in 1931.
The "Lane" were in Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and finished 8th under Hungarian Imre János Bekey. The following year they came top of their group and then second in the final group but were promoted to Serie B due to a change in format. In 1933-34 Vicenza came 12th in their Serie B group under another Hungarian, Otto Krappan, and should have been relegated but were saved, again to a change in format. In 1934-35 Vicenza were finally relegated to Serie C under future Lazio József Viola and Camolese left. He played 86 league games for the "Berici" and scored 39 goals.
In 1935 he joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Czech Walter Alt but after 27 games József Viola arrived. The Biancocelesti finished 7th and Camolese played 19 league games with 3 goals (Alessandria, Brescia, Napoli) and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Roma in 2-1 win).
In 1936-37 Lazio had a superb season and finished 2nd. They also reached the Central European Cup final but lost to Ferencváros 6-9 on aggregate. Camolese played 30 league games with 4 goals (Novara, Ambrosiana Inter, Alessandria x2) plus 5 in the CEC with 1 goal (Ferencváros).
In 1937-38 Lazio finished 8th. Camolese played 26 league games with 6 goals (Genova x2, Bari, Lucchese, Roma, Liguria) plus 1 game in Coppa Italia.
In 1938-39 Viola was replaced by Luigi Allemandi after 19 games. The Biancocelesti finished 10th and Camolese finally won a league derby (2-0 in Testaccio). He played 23 league games with 2 goals (Modena, Lucchese) plus 1 game in Coppa Italia.
The 1939-40 season would be his last for now in Rome. The manager was Hungarian Géza Kertész and Lazio finished a good 4th. Camolese played less, 10 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Macerata). Lazio also won another league derby (1-0 at home).
In 1940 he returned to Vicenza in Serie B. The manager was first Pietro Spinato and then Eraldo Bedendo and the Biancorossi finished 6th. Camolese played 31 league games with 2 goals.
In 1941-42 he was back at Lazio. The Biancocelesti had a good season under Austrian Alexander Popovich and finished 5th but Camolese only played one league game.
In 1942-43 he was with Vicenza again in Serie A. The manager was Pietro Spinato and the "Nobile Provinciale" finished 12th. Camolese played 12 league games with 2 goals (Milan, Atalanta).
The war then brutally interrupted top football, though it continued at local level.
In 1945-46 Camolese was in Serie A Alta Italia with Vicenza, again beginning with Pietro Spinato and ending with Eraldo Bedendo. Vicenza finished 11th in their group and Camolese played 17 league games with 2 goals.
He then retired at the age of 31.
Camolese was an attacking midfielder who only played for two clubs, Vicenza and Lazio. He had a good club career with plenty of goals especially early on at Vicenza.
At Lazio he played 120 games with 18 goals. He was part of the team that achieved second place in 1937 and had five positive years on the Biancoceleste side of Rome.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1935-36 | 21 (4) | 19 (3) | 2 (1) | - |
1936-37 | 33 (5) | 30 (4) | - | 3 |
1937-38 | 29 (7) | 26 (6) | 1 | 2 (1) |
1938-39 | 24 (2) | 23 (2) | 1 | - |
1939-40 | 12 (1) | 10 | 2 (1) | - |
1941-42 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
Total | 121 (18) | 110 (15) | 6 (2) | 5 (1) |
Sources
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