Lazio take point in Bergamo

Dag Jenkins
Mar 21, 2023
4 min read

Season 1992-93

Game 24, Serie A

Sunday, March 21, 1993

Stadio Mario Brumana, Bergamo

Atalanta Lazio 2-2

With an excellent performance by Gazza the Biancocelesti bring back a positive draw

The season had started with four consecutive draws (including Fiorentina 2-2). Since then Lazio had won 9 (including Atalanta 3-0) drawn 5 and lost 6. There had been a last gasp derby draw with a Gascoigne header, a 3-1 win against Inter at the Olimpico and a 2-0 win in Florence. Lazio were currently joint 4th, with today's opponents Atalanta, on 26 points. The Bergamaschi had won 10, drawn 7 and lost 6.

A difficult game today for Lazio, in a traditionally hostile environment, against a solid team.

The match

A pale sun and just over 20,000 spectators welcomed Lazio to the Brumana.

Lazio were missing midfielder Claudio Sclosa and forward Karl-Heinz Riedle (three-foreign player rule) while Atalanta had no absences.

After ten minutes of the tactical skirmishes the game came alive with the help of the referee. Lazio's Luca Luzardi appeared to get the ball on a challenge on Maurizio Ganz but not only did Rodomonti give a foul but also booked the defender. Ganz curled in the freekick which everyone watched as it came off the right post and then went to the opposite side where Sergio Porrini crossed it back low to Roberto Rambaudi who tapped it in from close range, 1-0. Lazio could blame the referee but also themselves for sloppy defending, failing to get back from the wall quickly enough.

A few minutes later Thomas Doll set Beppe Signori up in the area but Fabrizio Ferron was quick off his line and dived low to save the local boy's poked effort.

Atalanta then had a similar chance but this time Cristiano Bergodi walled Carlo Perrone's strike in front of Nando Orsi.

Lazio threatened, especially with Paul Gascoigne. The Geordie first forced Ferron into a difficult save on a volley and then equalised. In the 29th minute Bergamo-born Signori crossed into the middle where Gascoigne smashed a header past Ferron, 1-1.

Gascoigne continued to play well but got little co-operation from his other midfield teammates Diego Fuser and Aron Winter.

The first half ended with a fair 1-1 score line.

In the early second half it was still Gazza who was Lazio's brightest light. He glided past an opponent and unleashed a powerful long range shot but Ferron fisted it behind for a corner.

In the 60th minute however it was the hosts who re-took the lead. Perrone swung in a freekick from near the left by-line, Orsi slapped away but only as far as the far post where Ganz kneed it up and blasted it under the roof of the net, 2-1.

Both sides then made substitutions; in the 62nd minute Alemão came on for Stefano De Agostini and in the 64th midfielder Giovanni Stroppa replaced defender Bergodi.

Lazio were now set up for all-out attack but risked on the counterattack. Perrone was clear on goal but hesitated and was beaten to the ball by Roberto Cravero.

In the 74th minute Lazio were awarded a penalty. Doll was pulled down by Roberto Bordin on the left limit of the area but Rodomonti had no doubts. Signori stepped up and, amid the boos and whistles of his fellow citizens, kept his cool, sending Ferron one way and the ball the other, 2-2. The Bergamaschi, already not convinced about the penalty decision, also then complained that Signori had taken the spot kick before the referee's whistle.

There was then another potential penalty on Doll, possibly clearer then the first, but the referee thought it would be too much and ignored it.

The game then slowed down as both sides tired and settled for a point. Final score Atalanta 2 Lazio 2.

A positive and hard-fought point for Lazio who had come from behind twice against solid and fast opponents.

A fair draw in the end as both teams had periods of superiority. Lazio had been slightly on top in the first half and Atalanta in the second. For Lazio, Gascoigne had stood out while, for Atalanta, Ganz had caused the Romans lots of problems at the back.

Lazio and Atalanta were now joint 3rd, on 27 points with Torino and Sampdoria. The table read: Milan 40, Inter, 31, Lazio 27, Atalanta 27, Sampdoria 27, Torino 27, Parma 26, Cagliari 26, Juventus 25. There were four UEFA slots available so it was going to be a tight battle.

Who played for Atalanta

Ferron, Porrini, Codispoti, Bordin, Bigliardi, Montero, Rambaudi, De Agostini (62' Alemão), Ganz, Perrone, Minaudo

Substitutes: Pinato, Valentini, Magoni, Valenciano

Manager: Lippi

Who played for Lazio

Orsi, Bergodi (64' Stroppa), Favalli, Bacci, Luzardi, Cravero, Fuser, Doll, Winter, Gascoigne, Signori