December 31, 1933: Lazio-Bologna 3-3

Dag Jenkins
Dec 31, 2025
7 min read

Entertainment and Frustration

A six-goal thriller but Lazio give up two-goal lead and settle for a point

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had finished 10th under Austrian Karl Stürmer. Lazio had some good wins against Inter away, Juventus and Milan at home plus a derby, but were too inconsistent to challenge for the higher positions.

This season the Austrian manager had been confirmed. Lazio's financial situation did not permit much investment on the transfer market and the main signings were midfielders Giovanni Battioni (Grion Pola), Raggio Montanari (Foggia) and Duilio Salatin (Palestra Itália). Leaving was defender Dino Canestri (retiring).

So far Lazio had played 15 games, winning 6, drawing 4 (including recent 2-2 away at Juventus) and losing 5. Lazio were in joint 6th position with Milan and Triestina on 15 points.

Bologna had finished 3rd the previous season. Hungarian József Nagy had started as manager (1-25) and Achille Gama had finished (25-34). Bologna had won 2-0 in Rome against Lazio and 4-1 at home. The top scorer was Angelo Schiavio with 28 league goals.

This season the manager was initially Gama again but after eleven games he had been replaced by Bernardo Perin and Schiavio. The main new players were: midfielder Giordano Corsi (Padova) and forward Bruno Foglia (Cremonese - on loan). The only player leaving was forward Raffaele Sansone (Peñarol).

In Serie A so far the Rossoblu were joint 3rd, with Pro Vercelli on 18 points. They had won 8, drawn 2 and lost 5 (including recent 0-2 at Pro Vercelli).

A tough match for Lazio against one of the better sides of the period. Bologna had finished 1st, 7th, 2nd and 3rd in the last four years. In 1932 they also won the Central European Cup.

The match: Sunday, December 31, 1933, Stadio PNF, Rome

A grey day threatening rain attracted a big crowd.

Lazio and Bologna both had their whole squads available.

The game started at lightning pace. Bruno Maini immediately tested Ezio Sclavi and then Mario Gianni prevented an own goal by Felice Gasperi after an Anfilogino "Filò" Guarisi initiative.

Bologna gradually took control. In the 9th minute Sclavi saved a Bruno Foglia attempt and then in the 12th minute they scored with a fortuitous goal. Mario Montesanto took a long freekick from midfield and sent it high into the crowded Lazio area, a lot of pushing and shoving occurred with the Lazio keeper falling to the ground, the ball casually hit Angelo Schiavio and went in, 0-1.

The unlucky goal did not demoralise Lazio but instead they pushed forward with ever increasing intensity and in the 23rd minute they equalised. A quick one-two between João Fantoni I and Guarisi allowed Filò to cross, Gianni punched clear but only to Pietro Buscaglia who volleyed into the net, 1-1.

Lazio were rampant and continued on the attack. In the 26th minute Guarisi raced towards goal but was held back. In the 33rd minute Octavio Fantoni II shaved the post from an Alejandro De Maria cross. In the 39th minute a cutting through ball by Guarisi teed up Leonizio Fantoni III in front of goal and the Brazilian beat Gianni from close range. The goal however was disallowed as the referee claimed Fantoni had handballed in the build-up.

The goal came anyway a few minutes later. In the 43rd minute Buscaglia passed to De Maria whose powerful strike beat Gianni, 2-1.

Lazio led at half time. After a difficult start the Biancocelesti had reacted well and were deservedly in front. The game from now on was played in light but steady rain.

In the second half Lazio started from where they had left off. Following a Gasperi blunder Buscaglia went close and then Gianni saved efforts by Guarisi and Fantoni II. It was then De Maria's turn to waste another couple of good chances.

The third goal finally came in the 53rd minute. A brilliant Buscaglia shot came back off the post but reached Guarisi who controlled the ball and beat Gianni, 3-1.

In the 57th minute Lazio went close to a fourth. De Maria ran unmarked towards goal but was held back by the arm, the referee however saw nothing and the chance went missing.

From then on, the game changed. Lazio suddenly pulled back while Bologna, who had seemed finished, managed to regroup.

In the 60th and 62nd minutes Sclavi saved efforts by Maini and Schiavio and in the 65th Bologna scored. A good team move allowed Francisco Fedulla to fire in from close range, 3-2 and game on.

In the 68th minute Fedulla put in a seemingly innocuous cross but Sclavi was out of position and the ball went over him and into the goal, 3-3.

The game then went into a dull phase in which neither team appeared to know whether to attack or defend.

The game only came alive again in the last ten minutes when Lazio decided to push for a winner. Gianni made saves on Fantoni III (36'), Pedro Rizzetti (43') and Guarisi (41', 45') but the draw stood until the end.

An entertaining and clean game ended 3-3. Lazio had thrown away the win. They had things under control but a combination of mental relaxation and physical difficulties in midfield (Mario Tonali in particular had faded) had allowed the visitors back into the game.

Lazio were now joint 7th with Napoli on 17 points while Bologna were still joint 3rd but now with Fiorentina on 19 points.

Who played for Lazio

Sclavi, Bertagni, Serafini, Rizzetti, Tonali, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Fantoni I, Fantoni III, Buscaglia, Demaria

Manager: Stürmer

Who played for Bologna

Gianni, Monzeglio, Gasperi, Montesanto, Occhiuzzi, Corsi, Foglia, Maini, Schiavio, Fedullo, Reguzzoni

Manager: Perin

Referee: Beretta

Goals: 12' Schiavio, 23' Buscaglia, 43' De Maria, 53' Guarisi, 65' Fedullo, 68' Fedullo

What happened next

Lazio finished 10th again, on 31 points. They lost the next three matches, won the following two and then drew the derby 3-3 after being 0-3 down. In the last 9 games they continued to be inconsistent and won 2, drew 2 and lost 5 (including Inter 1-8 away). The top scorer was Anfilogino "Filó" Guarisi with 12 goals.

Bologna finished 4th. After the 18th fixture Hungarian Lajos Kovács became manager. Following today's draw in Rome the Felsinei won 8, drew 7 (including Lazio 0-0) and lost 3. They won the prestigious Central European Cup again by beating Austrians Admira Wien (later Admira Wacker) 7-3 on aggregate. The top scorer in all competitions was Carlo Reguzzoni with 19 goals while only in A it was Francisco Fedullo with 14.

Juventus won their 6th Scudetto while Padova, Genova 1893 and Casale went down to Serie B. Casale, who had won a Scudetto in 1914, have never been back since.

Let’s talk about Pietro Buscaglia

Pietro Paolo Andrea Buscaglia was born in Torino on February 9, 1911. His parents however were both from Vigevano in Lombardy.

His first club was GC Vigevanesi (Vigevano-Pavia) in 1929. The Ducali were in Prima Divisione (3rd tier) and finished 13th. He then stayed another two seasons with a 1st place and promotion and then a 4th place in Serie B, under manager Ugo Bonzano. Buscaglia played 22 league games and scored 14 goals in his spell in Lombardy.

In 1932 he joined Lazio in Serie A. This was partly due to the fact that he had to do his military service in the capital. The manager was Austrian Karl Stürmer and the Biancocelesti finished 10th. The highlights were wins against Ambrosiana-Inter 2-1 away, Roma 2-1, Alessandria 6-0, Juventus 1-0 and Milan 4-0 at home. Buscaglia played 11 league games with 1 goal (Triestina).

In 1933-34 he stayed with Lazio. The manager was still Stürmer and the Romans finished 10th again. Their best results were beating Milan 4-0, a 2-2 away draw to Juventus and drawing a derby 3-3 after being 0-3 down. Buscaglia played 23 league games with 4 goals (Casale, Triestina, Bologna, Triestina again).

In 1934 he signed for Torino. He stayed four seasons with the Granata. Toro finished 14th, 3rd and 3rd (under Tony Cargnelli) and 9th (under Gyula Feldmann and then Mario Sperone). In 1935-36 Torino won the Coppa Italia in which he was top scorer with 8 goals plus another 4 goals in the Central European Cup. In total he played 80 league games and scored 35 goals. His teammates included future film star Raf Vallone and future Lazio manager Federico Allasio (1954).

In 1938 Buscaglia joined Milan where he stayed three seasons. Milan were forced to be called Milano at the time by the nationalistic regime. The Rossoneri finished 9th in the first season under Jozsef Bánás. He played 21 league games with 5 goals (Novara, Juventus, Triestina, Lucchese, Inter) and 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Anconitana).

In 1939-40 the Diavolo finished 8th again under Bánás. Buscaglia played 9 league games with 3 goals (Napoli x2, Roma) and 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Fiorentina).

In his last year, in 1940-41, Milan finished 3rd under Guido Ara. Buscaglia played 10 league games with 2 goals (Bari, Fiorentina). This was the season the great Giuseppe Meazza joined Milan after thirteen seasons with Ambrosiana Inter.

In Buscaglia’s time in Milan he played alongside two future Lazio players, Leonardo Remondini (1947-50) and Paolo Todeschini (1948-49)

In 1941-42 he spent a season with Savona in Serie B. The Biancoblu finished 14th, under Hungarian manager György Orth. Buscaglia played 27 league games and was top scorer with 10 goals. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Romolo Remigi (1933-34).

In 1942-43 during the war he played for Abbiategrasso (Milan) in the 3rd tier. He played 35 league games with 18 goals.

His last club was his hometown Vigevano. After the war he spent two seasons, 1945-47, back with his local team. He helped the "Vige" get promoted to Serie B, where they then finished 7th. He played 65 league games and scored 16 goals.

At 36 he then retired. He went back to Vigevano where he opened a shop.

He won one cap for Italy in 1937 in a 2-0 win against Hungary.

Buscaglia was a midfielder. He was no giant at 1.68 and 70 kilos but he had a good club career. He played as inside half and was known for his well-timed runs into the area which explains his many goals. He played with three important clubs, Lazio, Torino and Milan. He made 162 appearances in Serie A with 50 goals. He won one piece of silverware, the 1936 Coppa Italia with Torino.

At Lazio he stayed two seasons. He made 34 league appearances with 5 goals. A curious fact about his time in Rome is that he also played in a jazz band.

He died in Vigevano on July 12, 1997. A street in Vigevano has since been named after him.