April 10, 1988: Atalanta Lazio 1-1

Simon Basten
7 hours ago
6 min read

A good point

Despite going ahead, Lazio struggled in Bergamo but managed to secure a draw

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had managed to avoid relegation to Serie C in a playoff with Campobasso and Taranto. They had been given an unjust 9-point docking, a very heavy burden with only two points for a victory, due to an alleged involvement in match fixing. Lazio did so well at the beginning that by early 1987 they were closer to promotion than relegation. Then the stress took its toll and the team collapsed physically and mentally. Before the last game of the season, Lazio were second from bottom on 31 points together with Taranto, on 32 there were Campobasso, Vicenza, Sambenedettese and Catania, with Modena on 33. With Cagliari already relegated, there were three places left. The last game was Lazio-Vicenza on June 21. With seven minutes to go, it was still 0-0. Gabriele Podavini got the ball and shot. It was more out of desperation than an actual goal scoring attempt. He miskicked it but the ball reached Giuliano Fiorini who turned on himself and scored.

Final verdict: Lazio, Campobasso and Taranto needed a playoff to determine who would join Cagliari, Catania and Vicenza in Serie C. In Naples on June 27 Lazio played their first game against Taranto and lost due to a goal in blatant offside. Then Taranto and Campobasso drew 1-1 on July 1. This meant that Lazio had to beat Campobasso to stay in Serie B. They did thanks to a Fabio Poli goal. The Biancocelesti were safe.

The new Presidency of the Calleri brothers with Renato Bocchi were obviously aiming for a return to Serie A in the 1987-88 season and certainly had this in mind when it came down to the summer transfer window. There was a revolution. Lazio said goodbye to goalkeepers Mario Ielpo and Giuliano Terraneo, defenders Ernesto Calisti and Daniele FIlisetti, but in particular to Lazio legends Podavini, Fiorini and Poli. The new signings were experienced goalkeeper Silvano Martina and defender Paolo Beruatto both from Torino, Diego Maradona’s reserve Ciro Muro from Napoli, Gabriele Savino from Vicenza, Paolo Monelli from Fiorentina and Giuseppe Galderisi on loan from Milan. Only a year earlier Galderisi had played for Italy in the 1986 World Cup.

There was a lot of expectation, especially because the slots for promotion were increased to four as Serie A was going to expand the number of teams from 16 to 18, but Lazio started slowly. After the first 10 games Lazio were 12th, not too far away from the promotion zone, but still not in a good position. A couple of wins pushed them back up but then six consecutive draws, the last five goalless, brought them down to sixth place together with Catanzaro. The situation was getting desperate and it got even worse in the next game at Taranto. They were trailing 3-1 at the end of the first half but managed to equalise and from then on Lazio lost only two games. They were currently third together with Cremonese, Lecce and Catanzaro, one point more than Bari and four points behind second placed Atalanta, today’s opponents.

The match: Sunday, April 10, 1988, Stadio Comunale, Bergamo

Lazio started well. In the early stages Ciro Muro on a free kick went very close to scoring but Ottorino Piotti with a brilliant save denied the Neapolitan the goal. In the 21st minute, Raimondo Marino tried a shot from 30 metres, Piotti parried but the ball arrived to Paolo Monelli who headed it into the net.

Atalanta attacked looking for an equaliser and almost got it shortly after when Glenn Stromberg arrived just a fraction late on a cross from the right. The referee could have given a penalty to the hosts when, after Silvano Martina dropped the ball on a Giuseppe Compagno cross from the left, Daniele Fortunato passed to the upcoming Ivano Bonetti who tried a shot which was possibly deflected at close range by an Angelo Gregucci arm. The referee indicated a corner.

In the second half the Bergamaschi managed to solve their problems in midfield and pinned Lazio back in their half. The Biancocelesti could however have made it two in the 61st minute but Gabriele Savino instead of passing to Monelli, who was completely free, chose Giuseppe Galderisi and the opportunity vanished. A minute later the hosts equalised. Marino fouled Andrea Salvadori in the box and Oliviero Garlini scored the penalty.

At this point both teams were content with the point and the game virtually ended.

Who played for Atalanta

Piotti, A.Salvadori (69' Barcella), Ca.Gentile, Fortunato, Progna, Icardi, Stromberg, El.Nicolini, Compagno (57' Cantarutti), Bonetti II, Garlini

Substitutes: Malizia, Rossi, Consonni

Manager: Mondonico

Who played for Lazio

Martina, Marino, Beruatto, Pin, Gregucci, V.Esposito (46' Piscedda), Savino, Acerbis, Galderisi, Muro (64' Caso) Monelli

Substitutes: Salafia, Brunetti, Rizzolo

Manager: Fascetti

Referee: Cornieti

Goals: 20’ Monelli, 63’ Garlini (pen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1nWWuFvFck

What happened next

With six games to the end, seven teams were involved in the fight for Serie A. Bologna and Atalanta were slightly ahead of the others, Lecce were one point above Lazio who in turn were a point ahead of Catanzaro, Cremonese and Bari.

The most important game of the season was Catanzaro-Lazio. Catanzaro by winning could have overtaken Lazio and it was 1-0 for the Calabrian Giallorossi when the referee indicated three minutes of injury time. With just seconds to go Monelli equalised and Lazio kept fourth place. Catanzaro managed to catch up with Lazio anyway with three games to go but it only lasted one game.

Lazio-Taranto was the last game of the season. Bologna and Lecce were already promoted, Lazio and Atalanta had a one-point lead over Catanzaro. The other two matches of interest were Atalanta-Messina and Piacenza-Catanzaro. The Biancocelesti won 3-1 and secured promotion to Serie A . Finally.

Paolo Monelli was the player with most appearances this season (42) and the most goals (14).

Let’s talk about Aldo Cantarutti

Aldo Cantarutti was born in Marzano, near Udine, on January 17, 1958. He started his career in the youth teams of Torino and worked his way up and debuted in Serie A on April 10, 1977 in the game won 3-1 against Catanzaro. At this point the Granata sent him on loan to Monza in Serie B. He did reasonably well playing as left-winger and even scored in Coppa Italia against Lazio.

He impressed the Biancocelesti so much that in the 1978-79 season he signed for them. A mediocre season for Lazio and despite Renzo Garlaschelli suffering an injury which took him out of the squad for some time, Cantarutti only managed 9 league games with one goal against Inter. At the end of the season Lazio sold him to Pisa in Serie B.

He played a couple of seasons for the Nerazzurri as centre-forward and in his second year he was Pisa’s top scorer with 12 goals. In 1981-82 he signed for Catania, again in Serie B. In his first year he scored 10 goals and in his second, thanks also to his 11 League goals, he contributed to a historic promotion to Serie A. Top tier football did not last long as Catania stayed just one year, winning only one game and collecting 12 points. Cantarutti was top scorer for the team but with just 4 goals.

In 1984-85 he played for Ascoli, still in Serie A but another relegation. In 1985 he signed for Atalanta and was top scorer. The next year he got seriously injured and missed most of the season. The Bergamaschi were relegated but the purgatory of Serie B lasted just one year. Cantarutti played well and helped his attacking companion Oliviero Garlini score 17 league goals.

He started the 1988-89 season with Brescia but in the autumn transfer window he was sold to Vicenza in Serie C1. He played there for two years before quitting active football.

At national level he has a cap with the Under 21’s and also played a Under 20's World Cup.

Once he stopped playing he became a scout, in charge of the technical departments. He has worked with Atalanta, Valencia, Lecce, Celta Vigo and Vicenza.

With Lazio he appeared in 12 matches (9 in Serie A and 3 in Coppa Italia) with one goal.