June 12, 1932: Lazio Modena 9-1
- Simon Basten
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Biggest win in Lazio history
Biancocelesti take Modena to the cleaners and win by the biggest margin in the club’s history
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had arrived 8th. Resources were limited so not much was expected. In the summer transfer window, the club invested heavily in Brazilian players. In came Armando Del Debbio, José Castelli, Alejandro Demaria and Anfilogino Guarisi (Corinthians), André Tedesco (Santos), Enzo Serafini and Pedro Rizzetti (Palestra Italia). Even the manager, Amilcar Barbuy, was Brazilian. The team was nicknamed Brazillazio due to the fact there were simply so many green and gold players. Saying goodbye to Lazio were Alfredo Foni, Piero Pastore, Riccardo Okley and Gino Lamon.
A lot was expected for the 1931-32 season but on the whole it was disappointing. The Brazilians’ difficulty in coming to terms with life in Europe plus problems in having to follow stricter tactical indications, translated into a 13th place. Lazio lost both derbies, but won against Juventus away and beat Bologna at home, the top two teams of the table. Towards the end of the season, the Biancocelesti got dangerously close to the relegation zone but a draw against Giuseppe Meazza’s Ambrosiana Inter at home, another draw against Silvio Piola’s Pro Vercelli away had taken them to safer waters. A win today would consolidate the gap and end all troubles.
The match: Sunday, June 12, 1932, Stadio PNF, Rome
Lazio started well and in the opening minutes had quite a number of corners in their favour. One could immediately see that the Biancocelesti were on a very good day. In the 24th minute Anfilogino Guarisi took a corner which Alejandro Demaria headed in.
Sixty seconds later it was 2-0. José Castelli on the counter attack to Joao Fantoni I and no chance for the visiting keeper. In the 29th it was Guarisi’s turn to score on a free kick which found a gap in the wall. In the 37th minute Armando Del Debbio made a long pass to Fantoni I who dribbled past a defender and made it four. In the last minute of the first half, Fantoni I interrupted a Modena play and passed to Castelli who tried a shot but he was too close to the by-line. In came Guarisi and it was 5-0.
Modena did try a comeback in the beginning of the second 45 minutes. An Antonio Moretti free kick was parried into corner by Ezio Sclavi. On the subsequent corner, Fausto Barbolini jumped higher than the others and reduced the deficit. But Lazio soon re-established the difference. In the 49th minute Mario Malatesta to Fantoni I who despite being held by a number of defenders scored the Biancocelesti’s sixth.
Lazio took over and scored another three: in the 65th minute Castelli on a Demaria assist, three minutes later Fantoni I after a Demaria-Castelli one-two and finally Guarisi in the 77th with another free kick.
Massive win for Lazio now safe from any relegation worries.
Who played for Lazio
Sclavi, Mattei II, Del Debbio, Serafini, Furlani, Fantoni II, Guarisi, Malatesta, Fantoni I, Castelli, Demaria
Manager: Amilcar
Who played for Modena
Policaro, Aimi, Sabbadini, Lombatti, Barbolini, Dugoni, Jones, Carnevali, Moretti, Scaramelli, Piccaluga
Manager: Stanzel
Referee: Rovida
Goals: 24' Demaria, 25' Fantoni I, 29' Guarisi, 37' Fantoni I, 45' Guarisi, 46' Barbolini, 49' Fantoni I, 65' Castelli, 67' Fantoni I, 78' Guarisi
What happened next
Lazio finished 13th, two points more than Brescia and five more than Modena who ended up relegated.
Today’s result continues to be the biggest win in their history.
Lazio Jersey 1931-32
Strangely enough, despite being full of Brazilian “oriundi”, Lazio played with an Argentinian type jersey this season with large light blue stripes and a v neck, copying almost exactly what Argentina wore at the time. Something similar would again be used by Lazio in 1999-00 for the Champions League and in 2017-18 for the Europa League.
Sources
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