August 6, 1989: Lazio Sassuolo 2-1, friendly
- Simon Basten
- 11 hours ago
- 7 min read
Di Canio Double Gives Lazio Victory Over Sassuolo
Di Canio strikes twice as Lazio overcome a determined Sassuolo side in their first serious pre-season test
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had struggled and was able to avoid relegation only in the final game of Serie A.
The summer transfer window of 1989 saw the sale of the players that had been chosen by Eugenio Fascetti the previous year, just before his shock firing from Lazio. Manager Giuseppe Materazzi was therefore able to choose his own players, or at least propose them.
So in came Pedro Troglio, Amarildo, Roberto Soldà, Raffaele Sergio and the return of Nando Orsi and out went Gustavo Dezotti, Nelson Gutierrez, Silvano Martina, Ciro Muro, Raimondo Marino and Antonio Acerbis.
Lazio were in the pre-season training at Serramazzoni from July 24 to August 14. They had played one friendly so far against the local team winning 14-0.
The match: Sunday, August 6, 1989, Stadio Comunale, Serramazzoni
Lazio took their first real step towards the new season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sassuolo at Serramazzoni. Paolo Di Canio was the decisive figure, scoring twice to secure victory against an ambitious Sassuolo side who gave the Biancocelesti a much sterner examination than their previous friendly against Serramazzoni.
It was far from a straightforward afternoon for Giuseppe Materazzi's team. Sassuolo, one of the strongest sides in Serie C2, pressed aggressively from the opening whistle and showed enough quality to trouble Lazio for long periods. The victory was narrow, but the performance offered plenty of useful indications as the squad continued to build towards the competitive season.
Lazio quickly realised that this would be no exhibition match.
Sassuolo played with intensity and pace, pressing across the pitch and refusing to allow Lazio to settle into their rhythm. The Emilian side had finished fourth the previous season after challenging Carpi for promotion for much of the campaign and had strengthened further during the summer. Their ambitious squad included Italo Bertolutti, signed from Novara for a substantial fee, experienced midfielder Marco Silvestri from Foggia and striker Sergio D'Agostino, formerly of Reggiana.
It was D'Agostino who would cause Lazio's defence the most problems.
Lazio, meanwhile, had handed a first official appearance in the Biancocelesti shirt to Alessandro Bertoni, while Di Canio was already beginning to attract the attention of the large contingent of Lazio supporters who had travelled to watch the match.
The Roman immediately justified their enthusiasm.
After 20 minutes, Di Canio opened the scoring, putting Lazio ahead and continuing the impressive form he had shown during the early stages of his time with the club. His energy and direct running gave Sassuolo's defence constant problems, particularly when he moved towards the right flank.
Sassuolo, however, refused to be discouraged.
The home side continued to press and created difficulties for a Lazio defence that looked less convincing than the midfield in front of it. Angelo Gregucci and Roberto Soldà occasionally struggled to cope with the pace of the Sassuolo forwards, with D'Agostino particularly dangerous whenever he found space.
The pressure eventually produced an equaliser in the 37th minute.
Bertolutti, one of Sassuolo's best performers, delivered a precise cross from the right. Valerio Fiori came off his line but failed to deal with the ball, allowing D'Agostino to rise and head into the net.
The goal highlighted one of Lazio's weaknesses during the first half. The defence was repeatedly vulnerable to the speed of the Sassuolo attack, while Fiori was also partly at fault for failing to intercept the cross that led to the equaliser.
Lazio almost restored their advantage before half-time.
Amarildo, who had been closely watched by the Sassuolo defence, finally found some space in the closing stages of the half. In the 40th minute, he controlled a cross with his chest before striking on the volley with his right foot, forcing veteran goalkeeper Bertolini into a save. Three minutes later, the Brazilian produced a well-directed header that narrowly cleared the crossbar.
The Lazio midfield, however, was showing considerably more promise.
Di Canio was the standout performer, but Claudio Sclosa also impressed with a tireless display. The midfielder repeatedly won possession in the opposition half and immediately looked to launch attacks. Gabriele Pin offered quieter but increasingly effective support, while Pedro Troglio worked tirelessly, although he would need to add greater discipline to his game.
At half-time, Materazzi made a wholesale change to the defence.
Nando Orsi replaced Fiori in goal, while Marco Monti, Paolo Beruatto, Cristiano Bergodi and Massimo Piscedda all came on. Franco Marchegiani, who had started as a sweeper, remained on the pitch but moved into a more prominent role during the second half.
The changes immediately brought greater stability.
Monti, who had recovered from injury in remarkably quick time, dealt far more comfortably with D'Agostino than the defenders who had faced him during the opening 45 minutes. Bergodi and Piscedda were also reliable whenever Sassuolo threatened.
At the other end, Di Canio continued to be Lazio's greatest attacking weapon.
The Roman winger repeatedly accelerated down the right, leaving Sassuolo defenders struggling to contain him. His direct running forced the hosts into a series of fouls around the edge of the penalty area, although Lazio were unable to make the most of the resulting free-kicks.
Di Canio came close to scoring again in the 51st minute when his free-kick from the edge of the area struck the post.
Seven minutes later, however, he found the net for the second time.
His goal came in circumstances that left Sassuolo questioning whether he had been in an offside position, but the goal stood and Lazio were back in front.
The second goal reinvigorated the Biancocelesti, who began to put greater pressure on their opponents. Di Canio continued to terrorise the Sassuolo defence with his acceleration and movement, while Lazio's midfield increasingly took control.
Marchegiani was also involved at the other end of the pitch. The goalkeeper, who had impressed after moving out from between the posts, struck the woodwork in the 63rd minute, giving Lazio their second hit of the post in the second half after Di Canio's free-kick.
The match became increasingly open as Sassuolo searched for another equaliser, but Lazio's reshaped defence held firm.
Beruatto, deployed in a midfield role on the left, also impressed, while Monti ensured that D'Agostino was far less influential than he had been before the interval.
Lazio were unable to add a third goal, but the final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory.
The result was narrow, but there was plenty for Materazzi to take from the afternoon.
Who played for Lazio
Fiori (46' Orsi), F.Marchegiani, Sergio (46' Beruatto), Pin (46' Monti), Gregucci (46' Bergodi), Soldà (46' Piscedda), Di Canio, Troglio (86' Delucca), Amarildo, Sclosa (70' Nardecchia), Bertoni
Manager: Materazzi
Who played for Sassuolo
Bertolini (46' Silvestri II), Residori (63' Meglioli), Negri, Bertolutti, Briga (61' Sacchetti), Di Gesù (67' Campioli), Schenardi (77' Bizzarri), Silvestri, D’Agostino (80' Martini), Roberto (46' Lagrasta), Tavaglione (46' Mantovani)
Manager: Capelli
Referee: Casoli
Goals: 20’ Di Canio, 37' D’Agostino, 60' Di Canio
What happened next
Lazio were forced to play in the small Flaminio stadium because the Olimpico was undergoing a heavy restructuring for the 1990 World Cup.
After the first home defeat against a much stronger Sampdoria, Lazio then surprisingly won in Milan against the invincible team of Manager Arrigo Sacchi thanks to a Paolo Maldini own-goal and lots of defending. It would take Lazio 30 years to repeat the feat.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had passed the first round but lost in extra time against Bologna in the second.
Lazio were playing with dignity, but lacking the spark that could ignite hopes and fans. There were so many goalless draws (7!!!) that Materazzi started being called Mr. 0-0. And it was a shame because Lazio ended up just three points behind Bologna who, due to Milan winning the European Cup and Sampdoria winning the Cup Winners Cup, were able to qualify for the 1990-91 UEFA Cup. A real missed opportunity that cost Materazzi his job at the end of the season.
Soldà was the player with most appearances (33 in Serie A and 2 in Coppa Italia) whereas the top goal scorer was Amarildo with 9 goals (8 in Serie A and one in Coppa Italia).
Lazio Jersey 1989-90
Image Sources: Football Kit Archive except first jersey (SS Lazio Museum)
The 1989/90 season marked the beginning of a new era in Lazio's history, at least as far as the club's shirts were concerned. After several years of wearing kits from other manufacturers, Lazio signed an agreement with Umbro in the summer of 1989, bringing one of the most recognisable British football brands to Serie A for the first time.
The home shirt was predominantly celeste, with a subtle geometric pattern running continuously across the fabric. The pattern consisted of overlapping triangles, which became visible through the use of two different shades in the weave of the material. This gave the shirt a textured appearance without compromising its traditional Lazio identity.
The design was based on a template also used by Manchester City, although Lazio's version featured its own distinctive details. The collar and cuffs incorporated white and blue, contrasting with the celeste body of the shirt, while a small clip button on the collar added an understated touch of elegance.
The Umbro logo and Lazio crest were both embroidered onto the match shirt, giving the jersey a premium appearance. The club's long-standing sponsor, Cassa di Risparmio di Roma, remained on the front, with its logo applied in blue flock material.
The shirt's most unusual feature, however, was its numbering.
The original numbers supplied by Umbro were produced using a striped horizontal pattern rather than a solid colour. Although this created an interesting visual effect up close, the numbers proved extremely difficult to read from the stands at the Stadio Flaminio. The combination of the celeste shirt and the striped lettering meant that spectators and journalists struggled to identify individual players during matches.
Following complaints from supporters and the media, Umbro was forced to modify the shirts during the season. The original numbers were not removed; instead, new solid numbers of the same size were placed directly over them. This produced a curious layered effect, with the original ribbed pattern remaining visible underneath the solid numbers.
The result was a unique detail that can still be observed on surviving match-worn shirts from the season.
The away shirt followed the same basic template as the home version but adopted a striking yellow colour. The geometric pattern remained embedded in the fabric, creating a visual connection with the first-choice kit. Unlike the home shirt, however, the away jersey contained almost no white or celeste detailing. Apart from the Lazio crest, there were few elements that immediately identified the shirt with the club.
This was an early example of the increasingly standardised approach to football kit design that would become more common during the 1990s. The same basic template could be adapted for different clubs simply by changing the colours and adding the relevant badge and sponsor.
Umbro also supplied Lazio's goalkeepers with designs based on those worn by England's national-team goalkeepers. Valerio Fiori and Fernando Orsi had several colour combinations available, including black and fuchsia, black and yellow, and black and green.
Sources
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