January 27, 1974: Lazio-Bologna 4-0
- Dag Jenkins
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
Campioni d’inverno!!
Lazio overpower Bologna with a Chinaglia brace and reach halfway point top of table
The season so far
Lazio went close to the scudetto the year before and were in contention until the very last game but finished 3rd. The Biancocelesti were in the race again this year
The charismatic manager Tommaso Maestrelli was still on the bench. There had been no major changes to the squad. Lazio had received plenty of offers for their best players; Luciano Re Cecconi (Torino), Franco Nanni (Fiorentina and Juventus) and Giorgio Chinaglia (Milan, Juventus, Napoli and Inter). The president Umberto Lenzini, however, managed to resist and keep them all.
There had only been some lesser deals: in Fausto Inselvini (Brescia) and defender Sergio Borgo (Pro Patria), out Giacomo La Rosa (Palermo), Andrea Chini (Cavese), Giambattista Moschino (retired).
So basically, Lazio were giving the title another go with the same squad. The idea was that they had gone so close the previous season that this year with a little more experience they stood a realistic chance.
The pitch was so far proving them right. Lazio had played 14 games and won 9 (including derby 2-1), drawn 3 and lost 2 and were top on 21 points, ahead of Juventus on 19 and Napoli on 18. Giorgio Chinaglia had already scored 7 goals. A week earlier the Biancocelesti had beaten Foggia 1-0 away.
Lazio had started their Coppa Italia campaign in August in the first group phase. The Biancocelesti had won 2 (Varese 2-0 and Novara 6-0, both at home), drawn 1 (the derby 0-0) and lost 1 (Brescia 0-2 away).
In the second group phase Lazio were with Juventus, Cesena and Palermo, all to be played home and away. Lazio had so far lost 1-2 to Cesena away and drawn 0-0 at home to Juventus. There was the impression Lazio were clearly prioritising the league.
Lazio were out of the UEFA Cup in a tie that would have serious repercussions. In the November away leg against Ipswich Town, in the round of 32, Lazio had lost 0-4 in England. In the return match Lazio had gone 2-0 up in the first 25 minutes and were dominating. They had not considered a tipsy Dutch referee, a certain Van der Kroft, who ruined the game with some farcical decisions. Lazio ended up 4-2 winners but tempers ran high both on and off the field. There was crowd trouble and brawls between players during but especially after the game. Lazio could expect heavy punishment by the UEFA authorities.
Today however it was a league game against mid-table Bologna. A good opportunity to keep ahead of the chasers (both had games against struggling opponents; the Bianconeri away at Vicenza while the Neapolitans played Genoa at home).
Bologna had finished 7th the previous season under Bruno Pesaola. They had drawn both games against Lazio, 0-0 away and 1-1 at home. The top scorer was Beppe Savoldi with 23 goals (17 in A).
This season Pesaola stayed on. The main new players were defenders Franco Battisodo (Cesena - back from loan), Angelo Rimbano (Napoli), midfielders Lionello Massimelli (Varese), Eraldo Pecci (up from youth team) and Adelmo Paris (Verbania).
Leaving were defenders Adriano Fedele (Inter), Aldo Maldera (Milan - end of loan) and midfielder Francesco Liguori (Foggia)
Bologna were currently 8th, on 15 points with Cagliari and Foggia. The Rossoblu had won 3 (including Inter 3-0 and Milan 3-2 at home), drawn 9 (including Juventus 0-0 at home) and lost 2. They came from the home win against Milan.
In the Coppa they got through the first group phase with 2 wins (Genoa 2-1 and Avellino 3-1), 1 draw (Reggiana 2-2 away) and 1 defeat (Napoli 1-2 away). In the second group phase they had so far won 2 out of 2 (Milan 1-0 at home and Atalanta 2-1 away), the other team was Inter. The winner of this group would qualify for the final.
So not an easy game today for Lazio against a solid mid-table side whose only 3 defeats showed they were no pushovers. The Rossoblu had also not lost at the Olimpico for four years. Lazio however with a win could become "Campioni d'inverno" a symbolic title given to the leaders at the halfway mark.
The match: Sunday, January 27, 1974, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A cloudy day with rain showers saw about 50,000 turn up at the Olimpico.
Lazio were without midfielder Luciano Re Cecconi while Bologna were missing defender Tazio Roversi.
Lazio came out firing and took the lead after only four minutes. A perfectly dosed cross by Franco Nanni was put away from close range on the volley by Renzo Garlaschelli, 1-0.
The visitors were shaken but gradually the game became more balanced.
In the 18th minute Fausto Landini had an attempt saved and caught low by Felice Pulici.
In the 25th minute Giorgio Chinaglia hit a good volley from a Mario Frustalupi cross but Sergio Buso was well placed.
In the 27th minute Garlaschelli had a one-on-one with Buso but the keeper kept his cool and saved.
In the 32nd minute Roberto Vieri tried his luck from the distance but was off target.
Lazio played good, fluid football and reached halftime deservedly in the lead.
The second half started with another Landini effort comfortably saved by Pulici, but then Lazio took control.
In the 56th minute "Long John" Chinaglia had a powerful low freekick stopped by the keeper and two minutes later Garlaschelli had a goal disallowed as Chinaglia had allegedly pushed the keeper.
The second goal came anyway another two minutes later. In the 60th minute Lazio put on a brilliant move. Frustalupi played in Chinaglia who backheeled to youngster Vincenzo D'Amico who had an open goal and did not miss, 2-0. It was the young lad from Latina's first goal for Lazio and he was unable to hold back tears.
From then on there was only one team on the field. D'Amico hit the outside of the post on the rebound from a Chinaglia freekick. Giorgione then hit the ball straight at the keeper from only five metres out after a deflected Sergio Petrelli cross.
In the 75th minute Lazio were awarded a penalty for Franco Cresci having pulled down Chinaglia. The striker brought up in Wales then placed a well taken low spot kick to Buso's right, 3-0.
Lazio now slowed things down and tried to play with the clock. There was a possible penalty for the Rossoblu when Petrelli seemed to trip Landini but the referee decided differently.
In the penultimate minute D'Amico repaid Chinaglia the previous favour. Vincenzino burst down the right and when he reached the by-line squared a perfect ball that Long John only had to push into the net, 4-0. Chinaglia did not celebrate but instead applauded the younger player's skill and altruism.
A good win for Lazio. The victory had never really been in doubt. Lazio, despite Re Cecconi's absence, had dominated the game in midfield and been creative up front. Giancarlo Oddi had practically cancelled out Bologna's danger man Landini while for the Felsinei the best players were keeper Buso despite the four goals and midfielder Giacomo Bulgarelli. The man of the match however was definitely Vincenzo D'Amico.
At the end of the game the visitors' manager Bruno Pesaola declared that Lazio were by far the best team they had played this season.
The table for the moment seemed to confirm this with Lazio on 23, Fiorentina 20, Juventus 20, Napoli 20, Milan 18.
Meanwhile Bologna were joint 8th, on 15 points with Foggia and Cagliari.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Petrelli, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Garlaschelli, Inselvini, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, D'Amico
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Bologna
Buso, Mei, Rimbano, Battisodo, Cresci, Massimelli, Ghetti, Vieri, Savoldi, Bulgarelli, Landini
Substitutes: Battara, Paris, Sartori
Manager: Pesaola
Referee: Mascali
Goals: 4' Garlaschelli, 60' D'Amico, 75' Chinaglia (pen), 89' Chinaglia
What happened next
In the next 15 games Lazio won 8, drew 4 (including Bologna 2-2 in the last game) and lost 3. The main wins were the big one against Juventus 3-1 at home and the derby 2-1.
Another key win was against Verona on April 14 when, 1-2 down at halftime, Lazio stayed on the pitch waiting eagerly for the second half and ended up 4-2 winners. With five games to go Lazio had a four-point lead on Juventus who drew at home with Cagliari
Lazio then earned a good away point against Milan and beat Genoa at home 1-0 with a Garlaschelli winner and had a three-point lead.
Despite losing to Torino on May 5 (only team to beat Lazio twice that season) a week later, on May 12, Lazio came into the penultimate game of the season knowing a win would give them the scudetto (Roma had done Lazio a rare favour beating Juve 3-2).
The opponents were Foggia, Maestrelli's former team, who were desperately battling against relegation. Fans started arriving at the stadium at 6 o'clock in the morning and the gates were opened at 8.45. The hills above the stadium were also packed as, before the roof was added for the Italia '90 world cup, it was possible to follow the game up on Monte Mario near the "Madonnina" statue on the hill. It was obviously a sell-out but many fans also managed to get in for free, swelling the crowd to explosive levels.
It was a tough game, with Lazio playing the last half hour with ten men (Garlaschelli sent off) plus Luigi Martini injured, but Lazio got the all-important goal with a Chinaglia penalty in the 60th minute. Foggia threw everyone forward but a tired and comprehensively tense Lazio managed to resist the Satanelli's assaults. On a glorious 1974 May day in Rome the Biancocelesti founded in 1900 were finally Italian Champions!
Maestrelli's crazy gang had done it. The team was divided in clans during the week but was masterfully brought together by the "Maestro" on match days. They played an entertaining brand of football based on the new Dutch philosophy and thoroughly deserved the title. Like Bologna, Fiorentina and Cagliari before them they had broken the monopoly of the big three (Juve, Milan and Inter). The top scorer had been charismatic "Long John" Chinaglia with 34 goals in total (24 in Serie A).
Lazio unfortunately would never get to take part in the European Cup a year later. After trouble on the pitch and off it, in the UEFA Cup return match against Ipswich Town, Lazio had been banned from all European competitions for three years, then reduced to one.
The scudetto celebrations however went on in Rome and the region for months and were enough to help forget the European disappointment. SS. Lazio were Champions of Italy!!
Bologna finished 8th. In the return fixtures they won 3, drew 8 and lost 4. The top scorer was Beppe Savoldi with 14 league goals.
The Rossoblu however won the Coppa Italia. They then won the group by beating Inter 2-0 and Atalanta 3-1 at home, drawing 1-1 away to Milan and losing 1-2 to Inter away. In the final in Rome on May 23 the Rossoblu played surprise Serie B finalists Palermo and drew 1-1 but then won on penalties. It was their 2nd domestic cup triumph (after 1970). Their next would not come until 2025.
Let's talk about Giacomo Bulgarelli
Today in our opponents series we will talk about a great midfielder
Giacomo Bulgarelli was born in Portonovo di Medicina (Bologna), on October 24, 1940.
In 1955 he joined the Bologna academy and four years later moved up to the first team squad. He would basically never leave.
He played for Bologna for the following 17 seasons. He played a total of 490 games (392 in A) and scored 56 goals (43 in A). The Rossoblu finished 10th, 5th, 9th, 4th, 4th, 1st, 6th, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 10th, 5th, 11th, 7th, 8th and 7th. He therefore won the Scudetto in 1963-64 under Fulvio Bernardini (in a playoff against Inter 2-0) and the Coppa Italia twice, in 1969-70 under Edmondo Fabbri and in 1973-74 under Bruno Pesaola. Bologna also won the Mitropa Cup in 1961. His other managers include Alfredo Foni, Federico Allasio, Manlio Scopigno briefly, Luis Carniglia and Cesarino Cervellati.
When he finally finished at Bologna in 1975 he then played a final couple of games in the States with the Hartford Bicentennials.
He then retired at 35.
At international level he earned 29 caps for Italy with 7 goals (Switzerland x2, Brazil, Finland, Denmark, Mexico x2) and was captain twice. He took part in two World Cups (1962 and 1966 with 4 appearances and 2 goals) and won the European Championships in 1968 although he made no appearances. He also took part in the 1960 Rome Olympics where Italy finished 4th.
After retiring he became a sporting director with Modena, Pistoiese, Bologna, Catania and Palermo. In the early 1990s he became a football pundit, working for TMC, Stream, Mediaset and RAI. He also collaborated with the sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Bulgarelli was an attacking midfielder. He was an extremely versatile player who could attack and defend and had a good balance between technique, skill and athleticism. In the last years of his career due to injuries he dropped back and played as 'libero".
Bulgarelli is a legend at Bologna. He refused offers from A.C Milan to stay with Bologna. Every home game he was greeted by the main fan leader who through the megaphone shouted, "Onorevole Giacomino, salute"! He still holds several records; most appearances (490), most Serie A appearances (391) and most capped Bologna player for Italy (29).
Bulgarelli died in Bologna, on February 12, 2009.
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