After hesitant start Lazio play, entertain and win
After a difficult first fifteen minutes Lazio dominate and comfortably win the Champions League clash against third placed Palermo.
Also on this day: January 27, 1991, Lazio Torino 2-1. A brace by Gabriele Pin gives Lazio well deserved win. Player of the day: Giampaolo Saurini
The season so far
It was Delio Rossi's second year in charge and the main new players of note were defender Modibo Diakité (Pescara), midfielders Cristian Ledesma (Lecce) and Massimo Mutarelli (Palermo), plus attacking midfielder Pasquale Foggia (Ascoli- but bought from Milan). In January Lazio had also signed Chilean midfielder Luis Jiménez (Ternana on loan) while Foggia had been sent out on loan (Reggina).
Meanwhile, Lazio had lost midfielders Ousmane Dabo (Manchester City- he would return two years later), Fabio Liverani (Fiorentina) and above all charismatic leader Paolo Di Canio (Cisco Roma). In the winter transfer window Lazio had just recently also lost Massimo Oddo to Milan for 11 million Euros.
The season for Lazio started with a 3 point deduction (reduced from the original 11) due to the previous year's Calciopoli scandal in which they had been docked 30 points, thus losing their UEFA Cup place.
Lazio had lost the first two games (Milan and Palermo) and were having an up and down season with disappointing draws (Empoli, Reggina, Cagliari, Livorno, Siena), some victories (Atalanta, Chievo, Udinese, Messina, Torino, Ascoli, Parma) and more bruising defeats (Catania, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Inter).The highlight had definitely been a 3-0 drubbing of Roma in the derby (Ledesma, Oddo and Mutarelli).
A week earlier Lazio had drawn 0-0 at home to Milan and so far had won 8, drawn 6 and lost 6 giving them 29 points (starting from -3).
Palermo were having an excellent season under manager Francesco Guidolin.
In the summer they had signed several players; goalkeeper Alberto Fontana (Chievo), defender Mattia Cassani (Verona), midfielders Mark Bresciano (Parma), Fábio Simplicio (Parma), Roberto Guana (Ascoli), Aimo Diana (Sampdoria) and forward Amauri (Chievo).
To make space for the new arrivals some players had left; two goalkeepers, Cristiano Lupatelli (Fiorentina) and Mariano Andújar (Estudiantes), defenders Christian Terlizzi (Sampdoria), Kewullay Conteh ( Atalanta), Leandro Rinaudo (Siena), Pietro Accardi (Sampdoria), world champion Fabio Grosso (Inter), Mario Alberto Santana (Fiorentina) and Simone Barone (Torino) plus strikers Stephen Makinwa (Lazio) and Denis Godeas (Chievo).
Palermo had started their season in August knocking West Ham United out of the UEFA Cup (Winning 1-0 in London and 3-0 in Sicily). In the autumn however, they did not get through the group stage against Celta Vigo, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahçe and Newcastle United.
The summer overhaul of players was so far proving them right as far as Serie A results were concerned. The Rosaneri had won 12, drawn 3 and lost 5 giving them 39 points and a surprising 3rd place. They had even been top of the table after the first 3 matches and then again on November 11 following 5 consecutive victories (including 2-0 away to Milan). The week before today's clash, with fellow Eagles Lazio, they had drawn 0-0 away to Reggina. Palermo's top scorers were Amauri on 7, David Di Michele on 5, Bresciano and Simplicio on 4.
Unfortunately for Palermo Amauri had recently suffered a serious injury and would be out for a lengthy period.
Palermo's lofty position and Lazio’s recent improvements meant today's encounter in Sicily was seen as a bit of a crunch match for both teams and their Champions League aspirations.
The match: Saturday, January 27, 2007, Stadio Renzo Barbera, Palermo
The match was a half eight kick-off on a mild evening and played in front of 25,000 spectators.
There was a slight surprise in Lazio's starting XI as Stephan Makinwa (former Palermo) was preferred to Goran Pandev. So it was the Nigerian who would partner with Tommaso Rocchi up front.
The first fifteen minutes were hellish for Lazio. The Sicilians had several chances but did not score due to inaccurate finishing by Caracciolo (weak shot saved by Angelo Peruzzi) and Bresciano (over the bar) in particular. To be fair to Andrea Caracciolo he did actually then score a goal, but it was controversially judged offside by the linesman, while he may have been kept onside by Luciano Zauri. So for a quarter of an hour Palermo were all over Lazio, striker Di Michele in particular seemed unstoppable. Then things started to change gradually.
Lazio grew into the game and started having some chances of their own. In the 15th minute a superb through ball by Stefano Mauri put Rocchi one-on-one with the keeper but his shot bounced off Alberto Fontana's face. Gaby Mudingayi then belted a long range shot just over the bar.
Palermo were by no means dormant and continued to attack. A brilliant curling shot by Di Michele was tipped over the bar by Peruzzi and Valon Behrami almost committed an own goal on a dangerous cross from the right.
So the game was more balanced but it still came as a slight surprise when Lazio went ahead in the 44th minute. Makinwa went down the left side of the area towards the goal line and got a deflected pass back to Rocchi in front of goal, his first left strike was saved by Fontana, but the ball came straight back to the Venetian who this time with his right foot scored. Halftime score Palermo 0 Lazio 1.
The locals must have felt a little hard done by but in the second half Lazio dominated. In the 52nd minute the Biancocelesti doubled their lead. A free kick into the box by Cristian Ledesma was headed towards goal by Sebastiano Siviglia, the keeper got a hand to it but could not prevent it going in, 2-0 to Lazio.
Lazio were now in complete control and Mauri almost made it three. A Rocchi shot was blocked by Andrea Barzagli and fell to Mauri in front of goal, but his shot was well saved by Fontana. The 70th minute witnessed the Lazio debut of new arrival Luis Jiménez.
The third goal looked imminent and it came in the 78th minute. Makinwa was hacked down in the area by Eugenio Corini for a clear penalty. Rocchi put it away with a central spot kick for his ninth goal of the season. It was also his first penalty, as until recently Oddo had been the specialist.
The game had nothing more to say. Final score Palermo 0 Lazio 3.
After a difficult start Lazio had well deserved the three points and moved up to 4th in the table behind Palermo still in third. The champions league battle was definitely on.
Who played for Palermo
Fontana, Cassani (69' Diana), Zaccardo, Barzagli, Pisano, Guana, Corini, Simplicio (69' G.Tedesco), Di Michele, Caracciolo, Bresciano (60' Brienza)
Subs: Agliardi, Dellafiore, Parravicini, Capuano
Manager: Guidolin
Who played for Lazio
Peruzzi, Behrami, Siviglia, Cribari, Zauri, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli (91' Firmani), Mauri (70' Jimenez), Rocchi (89' Pandev), Makinwa
Manager: Rossi
Referee: Dondarini
Goals: 45' Rocchi, 52' Siviglia, 78' Rocchi (pen)
What happened next
Lazio had an excellent season. They would draw the next two matches 0-0 (Chievo and Atalanta) but then won the next eight. Between February 18 and April 7 Lazio were unstoppable.
Lazio drew the return derby 0-0 on April 29 and a month later ended the season in 3rd place qualifying for a Champions League preliminary round (only top two went into group stage). In August they got into the main tournament phase knocking out Dinamo Bucharest (1-1 at home and 3-1 away). Top scorer was Tommaso Rocchi with 19 goals in total (16 in Serie A).
So, a fantastic year for Delio Rossi's Biancocelesti in the league with 18 wins, 11 draws and 9 defeats giving them third place on 62 points behind Inter (champions for 15th time) and Roma. Serie B welcomed Chievo, Ascoli and Messina.
Palermo too had a positive season. They were unable to keep up their Champions League challenge but did qualify for the UEFA Cup with a fifth place in Serie A. On January 31 Palermo signed a young Edinson Cavani (Danubio) to replace the injured Amauri.
A week later they beat Catania 2-1 in the always heated Sicilian derby (a match unfortunately marred by the tragic death of policeman Filippo Raciti).
The Rosaneri then faltered and had a string of poor results. On April 23 after a 4-3 home defeat by Parma manager Guidolin was sacked. He was replaced by Renzo Gobbo and Rosario Pergolizzi and they won the first match ( Livorno) but then lost the following two (Roma and Ascoli), convincing President Zamparini to call Guidolin back.
They then won the last two games of the season (Siena and Udinese) thus ending in 5th position with the prospect of another European campaign. They won 16, drew 10 and lost 12 giving them 58 points. Top scorer in the league was Corini with 10 (Di Michele also got 10 in all competitions).
Lazio 2006-07
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 59 |
Coppa Italia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
Total | 41 | 19 | 12 | 1 | 67 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
39 | 36 | 3 | |
Rocchi | 39 | 36 | 3 |
Zauri | 39 | 36 | 3 |
Ledesma | 36 | 33 | 3 |
Siviglia | 34 | 32 | 2 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Let's talk about Sebastiano Siviglia
Sebastiano Siviglia was born in Palizzi (Reggio Calabria), on March 29, 1973.
He started his career at Audax Ravagnese near his hometown. In 1990 he joined Parma for three seasons but never played for the first team. In his time in Parma the Ducali won the European Cup Winners Cup (2002-03).
In 1993 he went to Nocerina in CND (5th tier). In his first year the team from Nocera Inferiore, near Salerno, were promoted to C2 and the following season to C1. In his third and final year the Mastiffs were eliminated in the playoffs for Serie B. Siviglia made 87 appearances and scored 2 goals in Campania.
In 1996 he moved up to Verona to play for Hellas for two years. The first year the Scaligeri were relegated to Serie B and Siviglia played 30 games with 1 goal plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. In his second year he made 28 league appearances and 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal; Verona came sixth.
In 1998 he stayed in Serie B but joined Atalanta. The first season he played 32 league games (1 goal) and six in Coppa Italia. The second year the Orobici won promotion back to Serie A and Siviglia played 30 times with 1 goal and 7 games in Coppa Italia. In his final year in Bergamo he played 26 games in Serie A and 7 in Coppa Italia.
In 2001 he had his first experience in Rome but with Roma. He only got 5 league games plus 1 in Coppa Italia and 1 in Champions League. He won an Italian Supercoppa with the Giallorossi. In June he left Roma and went back to Parma in Serie A.
In Emilia he finally made his debut for the Gialloblu but still only played 2 league games, 1 in Coppa Italia and 1 in the UEFA Cup.
In December 2003 he returned to Atalanta in Serie A on loan and played 17 times and scored 3 goals.
In 2003 he went on loan to Lecce in Serie A and made 31 league appearances.
In 2004 he was loaned to Lazio so returned to the Italian capital. At 31 he started his Biancoceleste experience. He played 29 league games and scored 2 goals (Cagliari and Fiorentina), first under Domenico Caso and then Giuseppe Papadopulo.
The following year he initially returned to Parma but then signed a 3-year contract for Lazio and played 31 league games under Delio Rossi with one goal (Cagliari).
In 2006-07 he made 32 league appearances with 3 goals (Atalanta, Palermo and Catania) and 2 in Coppa Italia. Lazio had an excellent season qualifying for the champions league with a 3rd place finish.
In 2007-08 Siviglia played 19 league games (2 goals- Juventus and Fiorentina), 6 in Coppa Italia and 2 in Champions League.
In 2008-2009 he played 27 Serie A games with 2 goals (Fiorentina and Torino), 5 in Coppa Italia (including the final). He became vice-captain behind Rocchi and Ledesma. In May, Siviglia and Lazio won the Coppa Italia beating Sampdoria on penalties (1-1 and then 7-6).
In his final year at Lazio in the 2009-10 season he made 20 league appearances (with 1 goal-Fiorentina) and 3 in Coppa Italia, firstly under Davide Ballardini and then Edy Reja. In August he would also play the whole match in Lazio's 2-1 win in the Italian Super Cup against Inter in Beijing, China.
At the end of the season his contract ran out and at 36 Siviglia decided to retire.
He has since gone into a coaching career. He started at regional level in 2011 at Monterotondo, just outside Rome. In 2012 he was back at Nocerina with the Under 19's. He then worked in the Lazio youth sector for four years. In 2019 he was back in Terni with the Under 19's (he also had a 2 day spell as first team manager). Between 2018 and 2020 he was Lecce's Under 19's coach. In 2021 he was appointed at Carpi as head coach in Serie C but due to financial problems the club was not allowed to play in the tournament. In 2022 Siviglia became head coach at Potenza in Serie C but was dismissed on October 24.
Siviglia was a solid central defender. He could also play right back but at Lazio played mainly in the middle (his partners included Biava, Dias, Stendardo, Diakité, Cribari). He was good at man to man marking and was quick over short distances. At 1.82 he was good in the air and most of his goals came from headers. He played 183 games for Lazio and scored 10 goals. He won a Coppa Italia and an Italian Supercoppa at Lazio. Players who serve multiple teams over their career usually have one where they stayed longer, won more, belonged more, were loved more and that team for Siviglia was definitely Lazio.
Appearances and goals for Lazio
Season | Total Appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Europa League | Super Coppa |
2004-05 | 33 (2) | 29 (2) | 1 | - | 3 | - |
2005-06 | 33 (1) | 31 (1) | 2 | - | - | - |
2006-07 | 34 (3) | 32 (3) | 2 | - | - | - |
2007-08 | 27 (1) | 19 (1) | 6 | 2 | - | - |
2008-09 | 32 (2) | 27 (2) | 5 | - | - | - |
2009-10 | 33 (2) | 20 (1) | - | - | 3 | 1 |
Total | 183 (10) | 158 (10) | 16 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
Sources
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