Lazio go top
Mari scores winner fifteen minutes from time and the Biancocelesti are now joint league leaders
The season so far
Lazio had just won promotion back to Serie A. Under manager Carlo Facchini, for the first four games, and then Bob Lovati with Juan Carlos Lorenzo as technical director, the Biancocelesti had conquered 2nd place and a place back in the big time. Orlando Rozzoni and Paolo Bernasconi got 10 goals each.
This was a year after being robbed of a promotion in 1961-62 when Giovanni Seghedoni's goal was absurdly deemed to have gone in through a hole in the net...
This year Lorenzo was officially manager. The main new players were midfielders Paolo Carosi (Udinese-back from loan), Massimo Giacomini (Genoa), Alberto Mari (Sambenedettese), Bruno Mazzia (Juventus-on loan) plus forward Carlo Galli (Genoa).
Leaving were defenders Adelmo Eufemi (Udinese), Gianni Seghedoni (Vis Pesaro), Giambattista Moschino (Torino-end of loan) plus forwards Paolo Bernasconi (Parma), Claudio Bizzarri (Civitanovese) and Angelo Longoni (Vis Pesaro).
Lazio had played three games so far in Serie A and were unbeaten. They had drawn 1-1 at home to Fiorentina on their debut, then won 1-0 away at SPAL and in the recent mid-week game drawn 1-1 at home to Milan. Lazio had 4 points and were currently joint 3rd with four other teams including Roma.
The Biancocelesti were already out of the Coppa Italia as they had lost 0-1 away to Cagliari on September 8.
Genoa had finished 15th the previous season, only one point and one position above relegation. The manager was first future Lazio Renato Gei but he resigned in mid-March and was replaced by Angelo Rosso. Top scorer was Eddie Firmani with 8 league goals.
This season the manager was Argentine Benjamín Santos. The main new players were defender Natalino Fossati (Torino), midfielders Giampiero Bassi (Alessandria), Marcos Locatelli (Torino) plus forwards Mauro Bicicli (Inter) and Giampiero Piaceri (Torino).
Leaving were defender Rino Carlini (Alessandria, after ten seasons), midfielders Massimo Giacomini (Lazio), Giovanni Bolzoni (Napoli) plus forwards Eddie Firmani (Charlton Athletic) and Carlo Galli (Lazio).
So far, the Rossoblu had 3 points. They had drawn 1-1 away at Bologna on their debut, lost 0-2 by default for a pitch invasion at home to Catania (they were 0-2 down after 76 minutes anyway) and then thrashed Roma 3-0 at home. Genoa were currently joint 8th with three other teams.
In Coppa Italia had qualified for the second round by beating Brescia 3-2 away after extra-time. They would now play Alessandria in November.
A difficult game to predict today between two teams of similar level.
The match: Sunday, September 29, 1963, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny day attracted about 40,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
Lazio were without Juan Carlos Morrone who was injured with a slight muscular problem. Genoa too had a few absences, defender Antonio Colombo plus midfielders Bruno Baveni and Luigi Meroni.
Lazio started the game well and controlled the midfield. In the 13th minute, on a Mario Maraschi corner, a defender completely missed the ball but first Nello Governato and then Carlo Galli were not able to take advantage. In the 15th minute, after a superb Maraschi move, Galli fired over the bar. In the 22nd minute Maraschi hit the post with a low effort.
Lazio deserved to be in front by now and continued to be on top until halftime. Just before the break however, Genoa made an appearance in the Lazio area and even scored after a scramble but Paolo Carosi's unfortunate own goal was disallowed for a foul in attack on the Lazio defender.
The second half was different. Lazio looked tired after pushing for most of the first period and Genoa had more space as the game went on. The Rossoblu had shots with Franco Rivara in the 69th and Mauro Bicicli in the 74th but Idilio Cei was safe.
A minute later, in the 75th minute Lazio scored. Vincenzo Gasperi put forward a long ball from defence which Galli seemingly innocuously headed on but midfielder Vincenzo Occhetta and keeper Mario Da Pozzo hesitated allowing Alberto Mari to race on and get between them before lobbing the keeper. Lazio 1 Genoa 0. Lazio in front and a dream debut for Mari.
In the 83rd minute Lazio complicated things for themselves when Governato got himself sent off for dissent.
Lazio however held on without running any particular risks and brought home an important win.
A deserved one in the end as Lazio had been the better team, attacked more and created more chances.
Lazio were now top of the table with Juventus, Bologna and Milan all on six points. Next up was the derby.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Lorenzo
Who played for Genoa
Da Pozzo, Fossati, Bagnasco, Occhetta, Bassi, Rivara, Bicicli, Locatelli, Piaceri, Pantaleoni, Bean
Manager: Santos
Referee: Marchese
Goal: 75' Mari
Red Card: 83' Governato (L)
What happened next
Lazio drew the derby 0-0 and then predictably could not keep up the pace with the front runners and finished joint 8th (with three other teams). They did not concede many goals (24) but scored even less (21). The most common result was 1-0, either for or against. Between December 8 and January 26, they went through a bad patch and lost 6 consecutive matches. They then picked up and even beat Milan 1-0 and Juventus 3-0 both away and drew the derby 1-1. In the end the Biancocelesti had a three-point cushion on the drop zone and one point more than Roma. Top scorers were Mario Maraschi and Juan Carlos Morrone with 5 league goals.
Genoa too finished joint 8th, with Lazio on 30 points. They won 10 (including Lazio 4-1, Juventus 3-1 and a derby), drew 10 and lost 14 (including a derby). Top scorers were Luigi Meroni and Gastone Bean with 6 league goals.
In the Coppa Italia they beat Alessandria on penalties but then lost to Torino on penalties in the 3rd round.
Serie A was won by Bologna for their 7th title (with first and only ever Scudetto playoff by beating Inter 2-0). It was relegation for SPAL, Bari and Modena (after a 0-2 defeat to Sampdoria in a playoff).
Lazio 1963-64
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 21 |
Coppa Italia | 1 | - | - | 1 | - |
Total | 5 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 21 |
Top five appearances
Players | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Pagni | 35 | 34 | 1 |
Landoni | 34 | 34 | - |
Cei | 32 | 32 | - |
Morrone | 32 | 31 | 1 |
Maraschi | 31 | 31 | - |
Zanetti | 31 | 30 | 1 |
Top goal scorers
Players | Serie A |
Morrone | 5 |
Maraschi | 5 |
Let's talk about Giampaolo Piaceri
Giampaolo Piaceri was born in Camaiore (Lucca) on August 28, 1939.
He started playing with his local club Camaiore. After the youth team he played for the Bluamaranto for three seasons, from 1955-58.
In 1958-59 he played a season with Talmone Torino in Serie A. Toro got through four managers, including former Lazio Federico Allasio and were relegated. Piaceri played 5 league games with 2 goals (Alessandria x2) and 2 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Venezia). His teammates included former Lazio Lucidio Sentimenti IV and future World Cup winner with Italy, Enzo Bearzot.
In 1959-60 he spent a year with Cagliari in Serie B. The Rossoblu were relegated under Stefano Perati. Piaceri played 19 league games with 3 goals.
In 1960 he moved to Anconitana and stayed two seasons. The Dorici were in Serie C and finished 5th and 2nd. The managers were Aredio Gimona and Ottorino Dugini. Piaceri played 58 league games and scored 19 goals.
In 1962 he returned to Torino. The Granata were back in Serie A and finished 10th, first under Argentine Benjamín Santos and then Giacinto Ellena. Toro also reached the final of Coppa Italia but lost 1-3 to Atalanta. Piaceri played 9 league games with 1 goal (winner against Vicenza).
In 1963-64 he played a season with Genoa in Serie A. The Rossoblu finished 8th under Benjamin Santos and won the Alps Cup. Piaceri played 22 league games with 4 goals (Bologna, Roma, Messina and winner in the derby against Sampdoria) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Brescia).
In 1964 Piaceri joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Umberto Mannocci and the Biancocelesti finished 14th. Piaceri played 19 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Trani).
In 1965 he moved to Puglia and signed for Trani in Serie B. The "Dragoni" were relegated despite Piaceri's 9 league goals in 28 games.
He then joined Potenza for the 1966-67 season. The "Leoni" were in Serie B and finished 6th under Alfredo Mancinelli. Piaceri played 29 league games with 4 goals.
He then spent four seasons with Pisa. The Nerazzurri were in Serie B but were promoted to A under Renato Lucchi. They then finished 15th (relegated), 7th and 18th (relegated to C). Piaceri played 111 league games with 29 goals.
His last club was nearby Viareggio in Serie C. The "Zebre" finished 10th and 5th. Piaceri played 64 league games and scored 17 goals.
At almost 34 he retired and became a manager.
He started as assistant at Lucchese and was also briefly head coach (74-75, C), then Pisa (75-77, C), Riccione (77-78, C relegated), assistant at Sampdoria (79-80, 81-84, 2 in B and 2 in A), Perugia (84-85, B), assistant at Fiorentina (85-86, A), assistant at Lucchese (91-92, 93-99 all in B with brief spells as head coach in 1995 and 1997).
Piaceri was a forward. He played five seasons in Serie A, playing 85 games with 13 goals. He also played 157 games in Serie B with 39 goals.
At Lazio he only stayed one season. It was not a memorable one as the Biancocelesti finished 14th, narrowly avoiding relegation and Piaceri failed to score a league goal. At least they were unbeaten in the derbies as both finished goalless draws.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1964-65 | 21 (1) | 19 | 2 (1) |
Sources
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