Entertaining six-goal thriller
Lazio were 3-1 up at halftime but Blaugrana fight back to clinch draw and win tournament
Also on this day: August 5, 2002, Derby County Lazio 1-2. An evenly balanced game is decided by a Crespo winner. Player of the day: Dino Baggio
The season so far
Just under three months earlier Lazio had won their historic second Scudetto. The Biancocelesti had also won the Coppa Italia to clinch the double. The manager was Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson. Rome and the region had celebrated all summer.
The summer market seemed to have further strengthened the Romans. Arriving were keeper Angelo Peruzzi (Inter), midfielders Dino Baggio (Parma), Lucas Castromán (Vélez Sarsfield), Karel Poborský (Benfica) plus forwards Hernán Crespo (Parma) and Claudio Lopez (Valencia).
Some sacrifices were obviously necessary and leaving were keeper Marco Ballotta (Inter), defender Nestor Sensini, midfielders Matias Almeyda (Parma), Sergio Conceição (Parma) and forwards Alen Boksic (Middlesbrough) and Roberto Mancini (retiring). Some great players who would be missed.
So far in pre-season, before this tournament, Lazio had played three games. They had beaten Austrian amateurs Schwarzach 15-1, drawn 0-0 with Bayer Leverkusen and lost 1-2 against Eintracht Frankfurt but with several reserves.
In the first game of the Amsterdam tournament the Biancocelesti had drawn 0-0 with hosts Ajax. Lazio had fielded a stronger side compared to the previous games. They had played well defensively but as a team were far still from match fit. The league would start on October 1 while before that Lazio had the Supercoppa final against Inter on September 8.
Barcelona had finished 2nd in La Liga, were runners-up in the Copa del Rey (Valencia 3-4 on aggregate) and in the Champions League were eliminated in the semi-finals (Valencia again 3-5). The manager was Louis Van Gaal with José Mourinho as his assistant. Top scorers were Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo with 23 goals in all competitions.
This season the manager was Lorenç Serra Ferrer. Barcelona had some great players; Carles Puyol, Frank de Boer, Pep Guardiola, Xavi, Jari Litmanen, Luis Enrique, Marc Overmars, Rivaldo, Patrick Kluivert just to name a few. They also had a young keeper, Pepe Reina, who many years later would play for Lazio (2020-22).
In the first match the Blaugrana had beaten Arsenal 2-1.
The match: Saturday, August 5, 2000, Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
There was a good crowd of 50,000 in the Arena.
Lazio were missing Alessandro Nesta, Beppe Favalli, Paolo Negro, Juan Sebastian Veron, Diego Simeone, Pavel Nedved and new signings Claudio Lopez and Hernan Crespo.
Barcelona had most players available but shuffled them around between the two halves.
Barcelona started strongly and in the first twenty minutes had several chances to take the lead. The Catalans however were denied by a superb Angelo Peruzzi, the "Cinghialone" (Wild Boar), who saved on Dani, Kluivert and almost miraculously on Gerard from close range.
In the 21st minute against the run of play it was Lazio who scored. A brilliant Sinisa Mihajlovic freekick curled over the Barcelona wall and into the top right-hand corner. Lazio 1 Barcelona 0.
Lazio now played well with fast, precise, one touch football. In the 33rd minute Lazio scored again. On a long ball, out of defence Fabrizio Ravanelli headed onto Marcelo Salas who got behind his marker in the area and blasted a mid-height left foot in on the near post. Lazio 2 Barcelona 0.
Barcelona pulled one back immediately and it was a deja-vu for Lazio. In the 35th minute on a low Boudewijn Zenden cross from the left Dani slotted in from close range. It was a very similar goal to the one Dani had scored against Lazio in the 1999 Cup Winners Cup (Lazio 2 Mallorca 1).
Lazio however took back a double lead five minutes later. Dejan Stankovic burst forward and put a low through ball behind the Barca defence to Attilio Lombardo, inside the area on the right, the ball was then squared to the "Matador" Salas who had an easy tap in. Lazio 3 Barcelona 1.
A good first half by Lazio who had twice punished the Catalans on the break.
For the second half Barcelona brought on some big guns: Abelardo, Josep Guardiola, Marc Overmars and Rivaldo for Emmanuel Petit, Xavi, Philip Cocu and Zenden. Lazio made no changes for now as they only had youth players on the bench.
Rivaldo was already match fit as he had played for Brazil over the summer and he brought new energy to the "Culés". He had a header go just wide and then forced Peruzzi into a save from his freekick. In the 64th minute it was Gerard (another player who had punished Lazio before) who reduced the deficit with a cracking shot from 25 metres out. Lazio 3 Barcelona 2.
In the 72nd minute Lazio had the chance to possibly close the game. Stankovic raced forward and instead of passing to an unmarked Ravanelli tried a lob which hit the crossbar.
Two minutes later Barça equalised with a Rivaldo gem. He flicked the ball through Roberto Baronio's legs and then hammered a low left foot past Peruzzi. Lazio 3 Barcelona 3.
In the 81st minute Lazio replaced Ivan De La Peña and Ravanelli with two youngsters and then in the 86th Beppe Pancaro with another youth team player but managed to hold on for a draw.
Ultimately a good result for Lazio despite having led 3-1 at halftime. The Biancocelesti had important absences but had played good, slick football and held their own against the "Spanish" giants.
Barcelona therefore won the tournament with 9 points ahead of Ajax 6, Lazio 5 and Arsenal 1.
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, Gottardi, Colonnese, Mihajlovic, Pancaro (86' Santarelli), Stankovic, Lombardo, De La Peña (81' Luciani), Baronio, Salas, Ravanelli (81' Berrettoni)
Substitutes: Marchegiani, Conti, Varriale, Raggiu
Manager: Eriksson
Who played for Barcelona
Dutruel, Reiziger, Petit (46' Abelardo), Sergi, F. De Boer, Gerard, Xavi (46' Guardiola), Cocu (46' Overmars), Zenden (46' Rivaldo), Kluivert (86' Simao), Dani
Substitutes: Arnau, Puyol
Referee: Van de Ende
Goals: 21' Mihajlovic, 33' Salas, 35' Dani, 39' Salas, 64' Gerard, 74' Rivaldo
What happened next
The Biancocelesti won the Supercoppa in September by beating Inter 4-3. In January however, title winning Sven-Goran Eriksson left the club and Dino Zoff returned. This was because Lazio were not repeating the previous seasons results and the swede had also signed for England from June. Lazio improved and fought for the title but eventually just lost out to city rivals Roma. A 3rd place finish did however give them a Champions League participation.
In Coppa Italia Lazio were eliminated by Udinese 3-5 on aggregate in the quarter finals.
In Champions League the Biancocelesti got through the first group phase (Arsenal, Sparta Prague and Maribor) but went out in the second phase (Real Madrid 2-2, 2-3, Leeds United 0-1, 3-3 and Anderlecht 0-1, 2-1).
Ultimately a disappointing season for Lazio.
Barcelona finished 4th in La Liga and went out in the first group phase of the Champions League (Milan, Leeds United, Beşiktaş). The Blaugrana reached the semi-finals of both the Spanish Cup and the UEFA Cup.
Not a great season for the Blaugrana.
Lazio 2000-01
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 21 | 6 | 7 | 65 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
Champions League | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 22 |
Super Coppa | 1 | 1 | - | - | 4 |
Total | 51 | 29 | 10 | 12 | 100 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Super Coppa |
Nedved | 46 | 31 | 4 | 10 | 1 |
Pancaro | 43 | 31 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
Simeone | 41 | 30 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
Crespo | 40 | 32 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Nesta | 39 | 29 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Super Coppa |
Crespo | 28 | 26 | - | 2 | - |
Nedved | 13 | 9 | 1 | 3 | - |
Salas | 8 | 7 | 1 | - | - |
Mihajlovic | 8 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Inzaghi | 7 | 4 | - | 3 | - |
Lopez | 7 | - | - | 5 | 2 |
Let's talk about Rivaldo
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira was born in Recife, Brazil, on April 19, 1972.
Rivaldo started his football career in the Paulistano youth set up. In 1989-90 he joined the first team and played 48 games with 7 goals for Paulista, in the 2nd regional tier.
In 1991 he played for Santa Cruz at regional level and made 27 appearances with 19 goals.
He then joined Mogi Mirim in the top Paulista league. He played 31 games with 13 goals.
In July 1993 he joined Brazilian giants Corinthians. He played 58 games with 20 goals for the "Timăo (Superteam).
He then joined city rivals Palmeiras in July 1994. He played 120 games with 60 goals for the "Verdāo" and won two Paulista leagues and one Brazilian.
In 1996 he arrived in Europe. He signed for Deportivo La Coruña in Spain. He stayed one season and the Dépor finished 3rd. Rivaldo played 46 games with 22 goals.
His performances earned him a call by Barcelona who he joined in 1997. He stayed five seasons, playing 235 games with 130 goals. He won two Ligas, one Spanish Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. This period was probably the peak of his career.
In 2002 he signed for Milan in Serie A. He stayed one full season, playing 38 games with 8 goals. The following season he left in November after only playing 2 games. In his time in Milan he won a Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and a Coppa Italia, under manager Carlo Ancelotti. In this period, he played alongside Lazio connections, Alessandro Nesta (1993-2002), José Antonio Chamot (1994-98), Alessandro Matri (2015-16) and Valerio Fiori (1986-93).
In November 2003 he returned to Brazil to Cruzeiro but only stayed two months, playing 10 games with 2 goals.
In 2004 he joined Olympiakos in Greece. He stayed three seasons playing 101 games with 43 goals. The "Thrilos" (Legend) won three league titles and two Greek Cups.
In 2007 he stayed in Athens but joined rivals AEK for one season. The "Kitrinomavri" (Yellow and Blacks) finished 2nd. Rivaldo played 44 games with 15 goals.
In August 2008, now 36, he joined Bunyodkor in the Uzbekistan league. He stayed three seasons, playing 82 games and winning two league titles and one domestic cup.
In January 2011 he returned home to Brazil to Mogi Mirim but before playing even one game left for Sāo Paulo where he played 46 games with 7 goals.
In 2012 he made a strange move and went to play in Luanda. He joined Kaburscorp do Palanca where he played 21 games with 11 goals.
In 2013 he went back to Brazil and signed for Săo Caetano where he played 19 games with 2 goals.
His last club was Mogi Mirim again where he spent 2014-15 with 17 games and one goal.
At 43 he retired after 945 club games and 403 goals.
At international level he won 74 caps for Brazil with 35 goals. He won a World Cup (2002, scoring 5 goals), a Copa America (1999, scoring 2 goals in final) and a Confederations Cup (1997). He also won an Olympic bronze medal at Atlanta '96.
At individual level he won the "Ballon d'Or" and FIFA World Player of the Year, both in 1999.
Rivaldo was an attacking midfielder. At 1.86 and 73 kilos he was surprisingly fast and agile. His main assets however were his technical skills and his powerful and precise shooting abilities. He had great vision and tactical awareness meaning he could play in various midfield and forward positions. He is considered one of the best players of his generation.
In a Lazio connection he was one of the ones that got away. When Sergio Cragnotti was in charge of the club he went very close to signing Rivaldo. As he did with Ronaldo who went to Inter instead. Another two who got away were Boudewijn Zenden and Nicolas Anelka but with far fewer regrets.
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