Triumph made in Germany
Two goals by Lazio’s German players gave Lazio a good win over Bari and the Biancocelesti confirmed their good away form. Thomas Doll opened the score but it did not last long as Englishman David Platt equalised a few minutes later. A classic fine header from Karl-Heinz Riedle in the second half secured the win.
The season so far
The season was determined by a player who would not play a single minute of the 1991-92 season. In the summer of 1991 Lazio bought Paul Gascoigne. A massive deal for Dino Zoff’s side, but unfortunately Gazza’s dangerous tackle in his final match for Tottenham inflicted a very serious injury to the English player that would keep him out of the game for over a year.
Lazio had to therefore change their plans and in came Thomas Doll, a German midfielder with similar characteristics who was believed to be able to combine well with Lazio’s forwards Karl-Heinz Riedle and Ruben Sosa. Also arriving were defender Luigi Corino (Triestina), midfielders Stefano Melchiori (Reggina) and Giovanni Stroppa (Milan) plus forwards Maurizio Neri (Pisa) and Bernardino Capocchiano (TSV Havelse). Leaving Lazio were Sergio Domini (Brescia), Pedro Troglio (Ascoli), Alessandro Bertoni (Reggiana), Franco Marchegiani (Pisa) and Armando Madonna (Piacenza).
Lazio started the season with a draw at home against Parma, and this would be one of the main issues for the 1991-92 campionato, that is, a difficulty in winning at home. Before Bari, the Biancocelesti played five games on home soil: four draws and a loss. Away from home was another story with three wins and a draw that still allowed hope for a European Cup qualification.
The match
Bari, who were bottom of the table, introduced two new signings for this match, the Croatians Robert Jarni and Zvonimir Boban. The two players will both later have very eventful international careers.
A good start from manager Zbigniew Boniek’s team put Lazio in serious trouble and Bari would have deserved to be in the lead. But Lazio had other ideas. A mistake from Bari’s defence handed Giovanni Stroppa an opportunity to run forward unmarked for 40 metres. His cross was comfortably put in the back of the net by Thomas Doll six minutes from the end of the first half.
Bari did not lose heart and equalised four minutes later. David Platt scored following a splendid assist from Federico Giampaolo.
The second half was not as eventful until the 73rd minute, when a Riedle diving header, off a Raffaele Sergio cross, put Lazio in front again. Bari did not have the strength for a final onslaught and Lazio brought home the points.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Zoff
Who played for Bari
Biato, Loseto, Brambati, Terracenere (31' Giampaolo), Jarni, Fortunato, Cucchi, Boban (75' Laureri), Soda, Platt, Carbone.
Substitutes: Alberga, Calcaterra, Progna.
Manager: Boniek
Referee: D’Elia
Goals: 39' Doll, 43' Platt, 73' Riedle
A number of famous players were in this Bari team. Jarni would have a lengthy career and go on to play for Juventus and Real Madrid. Boban would win everything with AC Milan. They will both be part of the Croatian national team that will reach third place in the French World Cup in 1998.
David Platt was one the England heroes of Italia 90 when the national team came fourth in the World Cup. Coming to Bari following three years with Aston Villa, he went on to play for Juventus, and won a UEFA Cup in 1993 and a Coppa Italia for Sampdoria in 1994. Back in England he won a double (Premier League and FA Cup) in 1997-98 with Arsenal but his contribution was minimal.
Also worth mentioning is the Bari Manager Boniek. As a player he is best known for having played with Michel Platini at Juventus in the 1980s, winning the scudetto and the European Cup on the night of the Heysel Stadium disaster.
What happened next
Lazio was unable to solve its home performance problems. Only six wins at home were certainly not enough to have any hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup. The Lazio fans were also highly frustrated by the team's tendency to concede goals in the last ten minutes of matches.
The main event of the year was however the acquisition of the club by Sergio Cragnotti, who would buy Lazio from Gian Marco Calleri, on March 12, 1992. Lazio would gradually become a financial superpower over the next decade and achieve the best results in their history.
Lazio 1991-92
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 43 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
Total | 38 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 48 |
Top Five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Bacci | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Pin | 36 | 32 | 4 |
Doll | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Fiori | 35 | 32 | 3 |
Ruben Sosa | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Top Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Ruben Sosa | 15 | 13 | 2 |
Riedle | 13 | 13 | - |
Doll | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Stroppa | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Karl Heinz Riedle
Karl Heinz Riedle was born in Weiler on September 16 1965
Despite the fact that he was not particularly tall, he had incredibly good aerial abilities, probably one of the best in football history. This was because, thanks to his high jumping training as a boy, he was able to stay in the air for longer than anyone else and he was also extremely accurate.
He started his football career with FC Augsburg where in 1986 he attracted the attention of Sp.Vg. Blau-Weiß 1890 Berlin, a newly promoted Bundesliga club. A year later he moved to Werder Bremen where he stayed for three seasons before joining Lazio in 1990.
He arrived in Rome following the German World Cup victory in 1990 in Italy, and stayed for three years playing 84 games in Serie A, scoring 30 goals, and 10 matches in Coppa Italia (2 goals).
He was much loved by Lazio fans and by his attacking teammates Ruben Sosa and Beppe Signori, who thanks to him were able to have excellent scoring opportunities, as he terrified defenders every time there was a cross into the box.
Cragnotti sold the German to Borussia Dortmund in the winter of 1993. A shock initially for the fans who however were not overly displeased since he was substituted by Alen Boksic, who at the time was one to the best forwards in Europe. At Dortmund he was never able to reach the heights of his Lazio seasons but was fundamental in Borussia’s 1995 and 1996 national championship wins and in the 1997 Champions League final victory against Juventus when he scored two goals.
He played his last footballing years in England, first for Liverpool and then Fulham.
Riedle played 42 times for his national team and scored 16 goals. He also participated in two world cups: four games as a substitute in 1990 and twice in 1994 where he scored one goal against South Korea. He also played five matches in Euro 1992 and scored three goals. He won the World Cup with Germany in 1990 and was runner-up at Euro 1992.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1990-91 | 35 (9) | 33 (9) | 2 |
1991-92 | 33 (13) | 29 (13) | 4 |
1992-93 | 26 (10) | 22 (8) | 4 (2) |
Totals | 94 (32) | 84 (30) | 10 (2) |
Sources
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