A predictable and useful point each
Lazio try harder in first half but both sides ultimately settle for the necessary point
Also on this day: April 27, 2014, Livorno Lazio 0-2. Mauri and Candreva lift Lazio to 6th place and throw Livorno into deep trouble. Player of the day: Michaël Ciani
The season so far
Lazio had finished a respectable 8th the previous season, under Roberto "Bob" Lovati. Bruno Giordano had been top Serie A scorer with 19 league goals and 21 in total.
This year Lovati had kept his place. There were some changes to the squad. The main new signings were defender Filippo Citterio (Palermo), midfielders Maurizio Montesi (Avellino- back from loan), Vincenzo Zucchini (Pescara) and young forward Enrico Todesco (Como).
The players leaving were defenders Paolo Ammoniaci (Palermo), Pietro Ghedin (Pescara-on loan), Scudetto legend Gigi Martini (Chicago Sting), Andrea Agostinelli (Napoli-on loan), midfielders Roberto Badiani (Napoli-on loan), Franco Cordova (Avellino), Massimo De Stefanis (Palermo) and forward Aldo Cantarutti (Pisa).
On paper it looked as if Lazio had not come out strengthened by the transfer market, far from it.
In August and September, the Biancocelesti got through the first Coppa Italia group phase against Matera 5-0, Brescia 2-0, Pistoiese 2-1 and Udinese 0-0. They then played Torino away in November and drew 0-0. The return game in January also ended up 0-0 and Lazio then lost on penalties.
Lazio’s season however had been marked by a terrible tragedy. On October 28 a Lazio fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed inside the stadium before a local derby. A nautical flare was fired from the Roma end and, after having crossed the entire pitch, entered the Curva Nord tragically hitting 33-year-old, and father of two, Paparelli in the eye. He died on the way to hospital. I came into the Curva soon after the event and hearing of the incident and sensing the inevitably sombre, tense atmosphere my father decided to take my brother and I home. The game went ahead to avoid further crowd trouble and ended in a 1-1 of convenience. There is now a plaque in memory of poor Vincenzo Paparelli opposite the steps leading up to the Curva Nord.
Tragedy in October was followed by drama in March. For some weeks there had been rumours circulating about a match fixing organisation active in Serie A. Well, it all came to head on March 23 when numerous players, including four from Lazio, were arrested. Lazio’s players were Massimo Cacciatori, Pino Wilson, Lionello Manfredonia and Bruno Giordano.
On that sad day Lazio had just been defeated by Pescara 0-2. They were 13th and only three points above Catanzaro in the first relegation slot. A week later however, Saint Vincenzo D'Amico led a team of youngsters to victory over the Calabresi and so Lazio were virtually safe. They then lost 0-1 at home to Bologna and drew a crucial game 1-1 at Udine. Coming into today's match Lazio had a four-point cushion on 14th placed Udinese and Catanzaro with three games to go (Pescara were already down). Today Catanzaro were playing Milan at home and Udinese were away to Bologna, there was the feeling a point could be enough today for Lazio to celebrate safety.
Napoli had finished 6th the previous season, under Gianni di Marzio for the first two games and then Luis Vinicio. Top scorer was Beppe Savoldi with 11 goals (9 in A).
This season the manager was first Luis Vinicio (1-19) and then Angelo Sormani. Napoli had been quite active on the transfer market. The main arrivals were defender Mauro Bellugi (Bologna), midfielders Andrea Agostinelli (Lazio), Roberto Badiani (Lazio-on loan), Mario Guidetti (Vicenza), Giovanni Improta (Catanzaro) plus forwards Giuseppe "Oscar" Damiani (Genoa), Gaetano Musella (Padova-end of loan) and Walter Speggiorin (Perugia).
The main players leaving were defender Sauro Catellani (Udinese), midfielders Domenico Caso (Inter), Valerio Majo (Catanzaro), Livio Pin (Udinese), Pellegrino Valente (Avellino) plus forwards Claudio Pellegrini (Avellino-on loan) and above all Beppe Savoldi (Bologna). On paper the Partenopei looked weaker.
So far, the Azzurri were in 10th position, on 26 points, 6 from the drop zone with 3 games left. Virtually safe but not arithmetically. The Neapolitans had won 7 (including Roma 3-0 at home, Milan 2-1 away), drawn 12 (including Lazio 0-0) and lost 8. A week earlier they had drawn 0-0 away to Torino.
In Coppa Italia Napoli had reached the quarter finals but were eliminated by Ternana on away goals.
In the UEFA Cup they had got through against Olympiacos but then lost 2-3 on aggregate to Standard Liege.
Today's game at the Olimpico looked likely to be a classic end of season game where the important thing was not to lose, in the sense it had a draw written all over it.
The match: Sunday, April 27, 1980, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny, warm day saw about 30,000 spectators at the Olimpico. The hard-core fan base were unhappy about the current situation at the club and would only come into the stadium for the last five minutes.
Lazio played in uncharacteristic red shirts while Napoli played in white.
Lazio started on the front foot and seemed more interested in at least trying to play some football.
The Biancocelesti's goodwill was rewarded in the 13th minute. Vincenzo D'Amico jiggled his way down to the right by-line and then cut in, putting a perfect low ball across the goal line to Renzo Garlaschelli who put Lazio in front. Lazio 1 Napoli 0.
Napoli's reaction was feeble and it was Lazio who went closer to scoring again with Vincenzo Zucchini, Garlaschelli and Nando Viola.
At the half hour mark the visitors were forced to replace an injured Attilio Tesser for former and future Lazio player, Roberto Badiani.
Then out of the blue Napoli equalised. In the 38th minute Badiani put in a long cross into the area and young debutant Roberto Piccinini naively stuck out his arm for a clear penalty. Giovanni Improta coolly slotted it in, Lazio 1 Napoli 1.
The second half was slightly different but less lively. Lazio pulled back and prioritised the necessity to secure a point. Napoli on the other hand attacked more but were never really dangerous.
Both sides however hit the woodwork. Lazio with D'Amico whose cross from the left bounced off the bar and then Gaetano Musella who stretched out on a loose ball, anticipating Riccardo Budoni, but hit the post.
It then became increasingly clear what had been predictable coming into the game, both teams would be pleased with a point. A point it had to be and a point it was. Final score Lazio 1 Napoli.
Meanwhile the fans had made their appearance, giving warm support to the team but were far from friendly with their chants towards the directors.
Lazio were officially safe as Udinese had lost at Bologna. A terrible year was finally over but unfortunately it was about to get worse.
Napoli were also definitely out of trouble with today’s point.
Who played for Lazio
Budoni, Piccinini, Citterio, Perrone, Pighin, Zucchini, Garlaschelli, Labonia (55' A. Lopez), D'Amico, Ferretti, Viola
Substitutes: Avagliano, Todesco
Manager: Lovati
Who played for Napoli
Castellini, Bruscolotti, Volpecina, Bellugi, Ferrario, Tesser (30' Badiani), Celestini, Improta, Speggiorin, Musella, Filippi
Substitutes: Fiore, Damiani
Manager: Sormani
Referee: Bianciardi
Goals: 13' Garlaschelli, 39' Improta (pen)
What happened next
Having obtained safety Lazio then lost the last two games but then came the verdicts for the betting scandal and Lazio were punished for their players' alleged involvement and relegated anyway, along with Milan. Lazio won 5, drew 15 and lost 10. It had all been in vain (although D'Amico's sainthood remained) and Lazio's "annus horribilis" was complete. Top scorer was Giordano with 12 goals (9 in A), they would be the last for a while.
Cacciatori got a four-year ban, Wilson 3, while Giordano and Manfredonia got a three-and-a-half-year suspension. Lazio president Aldo Lenzini resigned and left the running of the club to his younger brother Aldo.
Giordano and Manfredonia would not play again until 1982 and only because of the World Cup winning armistice. Lazio would spend three years in the purgatory of Serie B and only get promoted in 1982-83 (with the help of Giordano and Manfredonia).
Napoli got one more point and finished 11th, then upgraded to 10th due to Milan's relegation for the same reason as Lazio although, unlike the Romans, their president had also been involved. The Partenopei's top scorer was Oscar Damiani with 12 (4 in A)
The Scudetto was won by Inter for the 12th time while Lazio and Milan went down with Pescara.
Lazio 1979-80
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 30 | 5 | 15 | 10 | 21 |
Coppa Italia | 6 | 3 | 3 | - | 9 |
Total | 36 | 8 | 18 | 10 | 30 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Citterio | 36 | 30 | 6 |
D'Amico | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Viola | 33 | 28 | 5 |
Tassotti | 32 | 27 | 5 |
Zucchini | 30 | 25 | 5 |
Cacciatori | 30 | 24 | 6 |
Top goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Giordano | 12 | 9 | 3 |
D'Amico | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Garlaschelli | 5 | 2 | 3 |
Zucchini | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let's talk about Riccardo Budoni
Riccardo Budoni was born in Rome on September 8, 1959.
He spent his early career in Le Marche in the Teramo youth setup. In 1977-78 he was put up to the first squad. The "Diavoli” were in Serie C and finished 8th thus gaining admission to the following year's new C1 format. The manager was Maurizio Bruno and Budoni played 5 league games.
In 1978-79 he joined Lazio. He played for the Primavera team (U19's) and won a Coppa Italia. In 1979-80 he was brought up to the first team. The keeper was Massimo Cacciatori with Budoni and Giuseppe Avagliano as backups.
The 1979-80 season turned out to be Lazio’s "annus horribilis" First a fan, Vincenzo Paparelli, was killed in the stadium by a flare shot from the Roma end before a local derby. Then in March four Lazio players were arrested for their alleged involvement in the Totonero match fixing scandal. One of the players was keeper Massimo Cacciatori. There were six matches remaining and the Biancocelesti were in the thick of the relegation battle. Avagliano played two and Budoni played four contributing to helping Lazio avoid relegation. Budoni played in the epic game won against Catanzaro but unfortunately Lazio were then punished with relegation anyway for their players' involvement in the scandal.
In 1980 Budoni went to Siena on loan. The "Robur" were in C2 and finished 4th, first under Giorgio Bravi and then Costanzo Balleri. Budoni played 34 league games.
In 1981-82 he joined Empoli again on loan. The Azzurri were in C1 and finished 14th. The manager was first Narciso Pezzotti and then Giampiero Vitali. Budoni played every league game, 34. One interesting teammate was a young Fausto Salsano who would later join Sampdoria and win the Coppa Italia four times plus the European Winners’ Cup.
In 1982-83 he joined Brescia in Serie C1. The main keeper was Giorgio Pellizzaro and Budoni only played one league game. The Rondinelle finished 11th.
In 1983-84 he joined Piacenza in C2. Again, he was reserve keeper and only made one league appearance. The Biancorossi were promoted under Battista Rota.
In 1984-85 he was back at Brescia. The main keeper was Roberto Aliboni and Budoni only played one game in Coppa Italia. The Rondinelle won the league and were promoted to Serie B under Antonio Pasinato.
In 1985-86 he was with Massese in Serie C2 and he finally played regularly again. The Apuani finished 7th and Budoni played 32 league games.
His last club was Spezia between 1986-1988 in Serie C. The Bianconeri finished 12th and 6th and Budoni played a total of 26 league games. One of his managers was, future Italy, Gian Piero Ventura while the other was Sergio Carpanesi.
Budoni then retired at not even 30.
He then had another career in 5-a-side football. He played almost twenty years for teams in and around Rome, where this sport is immensely popular.
He then became a 5-a-side coach for another twenty years. He won a Serie C championship as Nepi's coach and then a Serie B as assistant the year later (2002-03).
He now does some punditry for Lazio Style Channel, the club's official TV and radio channel.
Budoni was a goalkeeper. He was not particularly physical at 1.72 and 69 kilos. He did not have a high-level career but played over a hundred games in the 3rd and 4th tiers.
His peak was with Lazio in Serie A. He is still remembered for stepping in for Massimo Cacciatori and contributing to saving Lazio on the field but sadly they were then regulated anyway but Budoni had done his bit.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Appearances Serie A |
1979-80 | 4 |
Sources