Everyone happy

Dag Jenkins
Jun 1, 2023
4 min read

Season 1996-97

Game 34, Serie A

Sunday, June 1, 1997

Stadio Delle Alpi, Turin

Juventus- Lazio 2-2

Juventus go 2-0 up but are too busy celebrating and Lazio snatch a late draw

The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). After that they were very inconsistent with 6 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. The last defeat to Bologna 1-2 at home on January 26 had cost Zdenek Zeman his job and back came Dino Zoff.

Since Zoff's return the Biancocelesti had won 9, drawn 4 and lost 2. Lazio were currently in 4th place on 54 points, with 20 points on the relegation zone (before the change of manager Lazio had been joint 12th, with Udinese, and with only a five-point cushion on the drop zone) and guaranteed a UEFA Cup position. Things had gone a lot better.

Juventus had already been proclaimed Italian Champions. The Bianconeri were top of the table on 64 points, four ahead of Parma. Juventus had won 17 (including Lazio 2-0 and Milan 6-1 away), drawn 13 and lost 3.

Today however was the last game of Serie A so time to celebrate their Scudetto.

The match

A rainy day in Turin saw just under 40,000 spectators present to say farewell to yet another Scudetto winning season for the Bianconeri, their 24th.

Lazio had practically the whole squad available while the champions were missing goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, defenders Mark Iuliano and Moreno Torricelli, midfielders Didier Deschamps, Vladimir Jugovic and Zinedine Zidane plus forwards Alen Boksic, Alessandro Del Piero and Michele Padovano, half the team.

Juventus started off aggressively and possibly took Lazio by surprise who expected the Bianconeri to be in a more party mode, as their tricolour hair would suggest. Instead, Juventus attacked and Luca Marchegiani was kept busy by shots by Gianluca Pessotto, Alessio Tacchinardi and Christian Vieri.

Lazio were in difficulty with Diego Fuser and Roberto Rambaudi subdued and the defence struggling to counter Juventus' speed and in particular Attilio Lombardo.

Juventus deservedly took the lead in the 31st minute Nicola Amoruso put in a perfect cross to Vieri who towered above José Antonio Chamot and headed past Marchegiani. Juventus 1 Lazio 0.

Lazio had no reaction of any note and the Bianconeri went to the break a goal up.

There were no changes for the second half and Juventus continued to dominate.

In the 52nd minute they doubled their lead. Ciro Ferrara found Lombardo on the right, the winger crossed low to Amoruso who unmarked had no difficulty scoring from close range (although a puddle slowed it down). All very easy and Juventus 2 Lazio 0.

At this point the Biancocelesti brought on Renato Buso and took off Rambaudi.

Lazio looked more interested and Rampulla had to save twice on Gigi Casiraghi. In the 70th minute the visitors made another substitution, taking off Beppe Signori for Igor Protti. Juventus at the same time replaced Pessotto with youngster IvanoTrotta.

In the 73rd minute Lazio showed signs of life and scored. It was former Juventus forward Casiraghi who, teed up by Buso, smashed in a great right footed shot from the edge of the box. Juventus 2 Lazio 1 and still hope for the Romans.

In the 78th minute Mark Fish, possibly deemed to suit the meteorological conditions better, came on for Beppe Favalli.

Juventus seemed to be increasingly thinking about the celebrations and faded. This was confirmed in the 80th minute when they brought on two youth players, Davide Falcioni and Nicola Cingolani, for keeper Michelangelo Rampulla and defender Ferrara.

Lazio saw an opportunity to take something from the game and they did just that in the 85th minute. Pavel Nedved backheeled to the edge of the area where Protti pounced and at lightning speed went past Paolo Montero, Porrini and then round the keeper before slotting the ball in, a fantastic goal. Juventus 2 Lazio 2.

From then on it was just a countdown until the home side could dive and slide on the wet grass and parade in front of their fans for their umpteenth league title (24th).

A decent game considering the circumstances and slippery pitch and in the end everyone was happy.

Who played for Juventus

Rampulla (80' Falcioni), Porrini, Ferrara (80' Cingolani), Montero, Dimas, Lombardo, Di Livio, Tacchinardi, Pessotto (70' Trotta), Vieri, Amoruso

Substitutes: Bonetto, Vieri II

Manager: Lippi

Who played for Lazio

Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Chamot, Favalli (78' Fish), Rambaudi (53' Buso), Fuser, Venturin, Nedved, Casiraghi, Signori (70' Protti)