August 30, 1970: Palermo Lazio 1-2, Coppa Italia
- Simon Basten
- 15 hours ago
- 10 min read
Lazio win their first game
Chinaglia and Massa score as Lazio overcome Palermo in difficult conditions
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had done well since they had just been promoted so the 8th place was a good result that enbled the club to qualify of rhter Fairs Cup.
The current one had not started well. Deep contrasts between the manager, Juan Carlos Lorenzo and the President, Umberto Lenzini, over the summer transfer window would have deep consequences on the team's performance.
Following the 8th place, Lenzini was looking for an improvement and had set eyes on the future Torino goalkeeper Luciano Castellini, but Lorenzo did not agree, preferring Michelangelo Sulfaro. Lorenzo was also unimpressed with Lenzini signing Pierpaolo Manservisi. Other signings included goalkeeper Avelino Moriggi, defender Gaetano Legnaro and midfielder Bruno Chinellato (all from Alessandria) plus the return of Arrigo Dolso from his loan to Monza. Among those leaving were Carlo Soldo (Monza), Gian Piero Ghio (Napoli) and Giancarlo Oddi who was loaned to Massese.
Today was the first game of the season in the Coppa Italia group stage. Lazio had been paired with Palermo, Roma and Catanzaro. The first match was in Sicily.
The match: Sunday, August 30, 1970, Palermo Lazio 1-2, Coppa Italia
Lazio made a winning start to their official away campaign, beating newly promoted Palermo 2–1 at the Favorita on Sunday, August 30. It was a particularly encouraging result given the difficult circumstances: temperatures above 30°C, a strong sirocco blowing across the pitch and a playing surface badly damaged after a music festival.
The Biancocelesti nevertheless controlled much of the match and, particularly in the final stages, looked the more dangerous side. Palermo's protests reached their peak two minutes from time when Gaetano Troja went down in the Lazio area after dribbling past several defenders, but referee Bianchi waved play on.
The conditions made it difficult for both teams from the outset. Lazio had the strong wind against them in the first half and struggled to play their passing game, while Palermo adopted an aggressive approach with three forwards.
The hosts created the first real opportunity in the 17th minute. Troja escaped down the left and crossed into the box, but Silvino Bercellino failed to take advantage.
Lazio responded four minutes later. Pierpaolo Manservisi was fouled and Ferruccio Mazzola delivered the resulting free kick into the penalty area. Giorgio Chinaglia controlled the ball on his chest before firing a low shot past Sergio Girardi to put the visitors ahead.
Lazio almost doubled their advantage three minutes later. A corner eventually reached Chinaglia, but the striker failed to make proper contact with the ball.
Palermo were given renewed confidence by the escape and equalised in the 26th minute. Troja again caused problems on the left, taking advantage of an error by Luigi Polentes before crossing into the area. Graziano Landoni had made a clever run between three Lazio defenders and met the cross with a first-time shot to make it 1–1.
The remainder of the half produced little. Spartaco Landini tested Michelangelo Sulfaro with a shot in the 28th minute, while Giancarlo Morrone appeared to have created another promising Lazio attack only for the referee to stop play for a foul.
Palermo came out aggressively after the interval, changing their marking assignments in an attempt to disrupt Lazio's midfield. The hosts had more of the initiative, but Lazio defended comfortably and were now helped by the wind.
The Biancocelesti gradually began to impose themselves and, after winning two corners in quick succession, regained the lead in the 55th minute.
Morrone and Giuseppe Massa combined to start the move, with Massa then opening the play out to Mazzola. The Lazio captain crossed towards Chinaglia, whose attempted shot was blocked by Ivan Bertuolo. The ball fell to Massa outside the area and the midfielder unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net.
Palermo were forced to chase the game, but Lazio controlled the situation well. Indeed, the visitors became increasingly dangerous as the match progressed and produced an excellent spell of attacking football during the final quarter of an hour.
In the 83rd minute, Chinaglia was unable to finish after receiving a pass from Mazzola because he was brought down by Antonio De Bellis. A minute later Mazzola was presented with another opportunity after a fine Lazio move, but his shot went wide. Chinaglia then went close again in the 85th minute.
Lazio appeared to have the match under control, but there was one final scare. With two minutes remaining, Troja entered the penalty area, dribbled past three Lazio players and went down under a challenge. Palermo immediately appealed for a penalty, but referee Bianchi allowed play to continue.
The final whistle soon followed, confirming a 2–1 victory for Lazio.
It was an excellent result for Lorenzo's side. The performance was not perfect, but Lazio had coped with the oppressive heat, strong wind, poor playing surface and Palermo's aggressive approach, while finishing the match in excellent physical condition. Most importantly, their new tactical approach appeared promising, with Massa operating as a deep-lying playmaker and allowing Mazzola, Nello Governato and Morrone to make runs into the central areas.
For Lazio, it was a first official away victory of the season — and a convincing indication that the team could be changing its style of play.
Who played for Palermo
Girardi, Sgrazzutti, Pasetti, Lancini, Bertuolo, De Bellis, Perucconi (70' Alario), Landoni, Troja, Vanello, Bercellino II (65' E.Ferrari)
Substitutes: Ferretti, Costantini, Reja
Manager: Di Bella (club secretary Bracco on the bench)
Who played for Lazio
Sulfaro, Wilson, Facco, Governato (77' Nanni), Polentes, Marchesi, Massa, Mazzola II, Chinaglia, Manservisi, Morrone
Substitutes: Moriggi, Papadopulo, Legnaro, Dolso
Manager: Lorenzo (Giambartolomei on the bench)
Referee: Bianchi
Goals: 21’ Chinaglia, 26’ Landoni, 65’ Massa
What happened next
Lazio were beaten by Rome in the next match and finished second in their group thus did not continue in Coppa Italia. In the Fairs Cup they were eliminated by Arsenal 4-2 on aggregate.
The feud between the manager and president did not relent for the entire season. Lorenzo was sacked a few times, only to come back following protests by a particularly passionate group of fans loyal to the manager.
After the first half of the season Lazio were last with only nine points. They had won just one game (vs Sampdoria) and had drawn a controversial derby. Things improved a little bit in the second half of the season and after the win in Genoa against Sampdoria the Biancocelesti were potentially one point away from safety. But they needed to beat Fiorentina in the next match and they did not. A draw against Juventus in the next game meant that the last two games, away to Varese and at home to Vicenza were vital. At Varese Lazio were 2-1 down when the referee, Sergio Gonella, who would later referee the World Cup final between Argentina and Holland in 1978, first gave Lazio a penalty, but then changed his mind and gave a free kick to Lazio for a previous foul. The Biancocelesti lost and all hope was on a win in the penultimate match against Vicenza at home. Lazio lost that game too and were relegated.
At the end of the season there was a consolation prize as Lazio won the Cup of the Alps beating Basel 3-1 in the final.
A history of Lazio vs Palermo
Lazio have played Palermo 80 times: 52 in Serie A, 12 in Serie B, 11 in Coppa Italia, 4 in the National Division and once in the Trofeo dei Mille of 1910.
First game: Trofeo dei Mille Final, Palermo Lazio 2-1 on Saturday, May 14, 1910
First Lazio Home Win: Sunday, October 17, 1926, Lazio Palermo 3-0, National Division First Division
First Lazio Away Win: Sunday, November 25, 1945, Palermo Lazio 0-1, National Division Southern League
Latest Lazio Home Win and last match played: Sunday, April 23, 2017, Lazio Palermo 6-2, Serie A
Latest Lazio Away Win: Sunday, November 27, 2016, Palermo Lazio 0-1, Serie A
Total Lazio Wins: 36 (25 home, 11 away)
Total Draws: 23 (10 home, 13 away)
Total Palermo Wins: 21 (5 home, 16 away)
Best Lazio Win: Lazio Palermo 5-0, May 7, 1950.
Match with greater number of goals: 8 (Palermo Lazio 2-6, June 16, 1957; Lazio Palermo 6-2, April 23, 2017)
Worst defeat: Palermo Lazio 5-1, February 19, 2012
From the city of Palermo, Lazio also played Audax Palermo in 1910, in the semi-final of the Trofeo dei Mille, which the Biancocelesti won, and Libertas Palermo in the first-division Inter-regional group phase in 1923, winning both matches. Libertas would later merge with Unione Sportiva Palermo in 1924.
A brief history of Palermo
Founded in 1900 as the Anglo-Palermitan Athletic and Foot-Ball Club, the club changed its name to Palermo Foot-Ball Club in 1907 and adopted the famous pink-and-black colours. It quickly became one of the leading clubs in Sicily, winning the Coppa Lipton several times in the early decades. After the original club ceased activity during the First World War, Palermo was reconstituted in February 1920 when Racing FBC changed its name to Unione Sportiva Palermo.
In 1920 another important club emerged in the city, Sport Club Libertas Palermo. The two sides contested Palermo's first derby on 3 December 1920, with the Rosanero winning 7–0. Libertas soon became a competitive force, winning the Sicilian Prima Divisione in 1922–23 and reaching the semi-finals of the Lega Sud. Financial difficulties eventually made it impossible for both clubs to maintain teams at national level, and in January 1924 Libertas merged with Palermo. The Palermo name and pink-and-black colours were retained, bringing one of the city's principal early rivals into the history of the Rosanero.
Palermo first reached the top level of Italian football in 1932 and spent four consecutive seasons in Serie A. After the Second World War, the club returned to the top flight in 1948 and subsequently alternated between Serie A and Serie B, with the era of president Raimondo Lanza di Trabia in the 1950s among the most memorable periods in its history.
The club's fortunes declined during the 1970s and 1980s. Under president Renzo Barbera, Palermo reached two Coppa Italia finals, in 1974 and 1979, but lost both. Financial problems eventually led to the club's exclusion from the championships in 1986 and its subsequent re-foundation. The new Palermo worked its way back through the divisions, winning the Coppa Italia Serie C in 1993. The club's greatest modern period came after Maurizio Zamparini took over in 2002: Palermo returned to Serie A in 2004, established itself in the top flight and regularly challenged for European qualification, reaching the UEFA Cup/Europa League and the Coppa Italia final in 2011.
That golden period eventually ended with another financial collapse in 2019, when Palermo were excluded from Serie B and the professional championships. A new club, SSD Palermo, was admitted to Serie D and immediately won promotion to Serie C. The club then returned to Serie B in 2022. Since 2022, Palermo has been part of the international City Football Group, whose majority owner is Abu Dhabi-based Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Dario Mirri, a Sicilian businessman and lifelong Palermo supporter, has remained president.
Palermo currently play in Serie B.
Lazio in Palermo
The Biancocelesti have played 42 time in Palermo almost all at the Stadio La Favorita. Lazio have also played Catania once there in 1984.
The first time Lazio went to Palermo to play was in 1910 for the Trofeo dei Mille and there they played in the first football field of the city in Via Emmanuele Notarbartolo. It was called “U Pantanu” (the marsh) because all it needed was a couple of drops of rain and the pitch became a swamp. Palermo played there from 1900 until 1914.
Lazio then played against Libertas at the Campo di Via di Pietro Ranzano in 1923 and since 1933, in their first Serie A encounter, the Biancocelesti have played at the Stadio La Favorita.
Renzo Barbera Stadium
The stadium was inaugurated on 24 January 1932, when Palermo defeated Atalanta 5–1. Designed by architect Giovan Battista Santangelo, it was originally called Stadio Littorio. The stadium initially had an athletics track around the pitch, while the two ends behind the goals were not yet developed as conventional stands. In 1937 it was renamed Stadio Michele Marrone, after a former Palermo player who had died during the Spanish Civil War. Following the Second World War, it became known as Stadio La Favorita, the name by which it was known for more than half a century.
The first major redevelopment came in 1948. The athletics track was removed and the two curved stands behind the goals were constructed, increasing capacity to approximately 30,000. The stadium was then substantially enlarged again in 1984, when a second tier was added around the curves and the main stand. Capacity rose to almost 50,000, although the enormous figure was rarely approached.
The most important transformation came in preparation for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Palermo was selected as one of the host cities, and rather than construct a completely new stadium, the authorities opted for a major reconstruction of La Favorita. The project effectively rebuilt much of the stadium, including a new second tier, while seating was installed throughout the ground to comply with the new safety regulations. This actually reduced the capacity to around 37,000, despite the enormous 1984 expansion. The redevelopment was completed shortly before the World Cup, and Palermo temporarily had to play its home matches in Trapani during the works.
There was also a tragic episode during the reconstruction: on 30 August 1989, five workers were killed when part of the stadium collapsed. A commemorative plaque was subsequently installed inside the stadium. The rebuilt ground was inaugurated on 30 May 1990, only days before the World Cup, during the Coppa Italia Serie C final between Palermo and Lucchese.
Italia '90
The newly renovated La Favorita hosted three matches at the 1990 World Cup, all in Group F, which contained the Netherlands, England, Republic of Ireland and Egypt. The matches were:
12 June 1990: Netherlands 1–1 Egypt
17 June 1990: Republic of Ireland 0–0 Egypt
21 June 1990: Republic of Ireland 1–1 Netherlands
Thus, remarkably, all three World Cup matches played in Palermo ended in draws.
Finally, on 18 September 2002, the stadium was renamed Stadio Renzo Barbera in honour of the former Palermo president who had led the club during one of its most important periods. It remains Palermo's home today.
Top Palemo appearances all time
Roberto Biffi — 373 appearances
Fabrizio Miccoli — 165 appearances
Stefano Sorrentino — 164 appearances
Vito Chimenti — 158 appearances
Franco Brienza — 152 appearances
Top Palermo Goal Scorers all time
Fabrizio Miccoli — 81
Carlo Radice — 78
Santiago "Ghito" Vernazza — 53
Luca Toni — 51
Gaetano Troja — 48
The 10 greatest Palermo players of all time
Fabrizio Miccoli Forward | Palermo 2007–2013
Luca Toni Forward | Palermo 2003–2005
Santiago "Ghito" Vernazza Forward/attacking midfielder | Palermo 1957–1960
Roberto Biffi Defender | Palermo 1988–1999
Paulo Dybala Forward | Palermo 2012–2015
Eugenio Corini Midfielder | Palermo 2003–2004, 2005–2007
Gaetano Troja Forward | Palermo 1964–1966, 1968–1973
Carlo Radice Forward | Palermo 1929–1933, 1934–1935
Edinson Cavani Forward | Palermo 2007–2010
Franco Causio Winger | Palermo 1964–1965
A few very close calls
Josip Iličić, Franco Brienza, Antonio De Bellis, Enzo Benedetti, Vito Chimenti, Dante Di Maso, Silvino Bercellino, Giuseppe Barzagli, Fabio Grosso and Stefano Sorrentino.
Palermo–Lazio connections
There have also been several players who represented both Palermo and Lazio, most notably Giuseppe Biava (2004–08), Paolo Ammoniaci (1980–81), Maximiliano Faotto (1932–37, 1945–47), Fabio Liverani (2008–10), Massimo De Stefanis (1979-84).
Sources
Wikipedia (various pages)
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