Winter depressing for Dea

Dag Jenkins
Dec 23, 2023
4 min read

Updated: Dec 31, 2025

Season 1995-96

Game 15, Serie A

Saturday, December 23, 1995

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Atalanta 5-1

The Dutchman opens and closes the scoring as Lazio bury Atalanta in goals

In Serie A so far, Lazio were 5th, on 22 points with today's opponents Atalanta. The Biancocelesti had won 6 (including Juventus 4-0 and recently Sampdoria 6-3 at home), drawn 4 (including derby and Inter away, both 0-0) and lost 4 (3 out of last 4). After a good start Lazio had slowed down but came from a win.

Atalanta had won 6 (including Roma 1-0 away), drawn 4 and lost 4 (including last 2), the same as Lazio.

So, an important game today between two sides hovering about the European qualification places but neither on top form in recent weeks.

The match

A wet and gloomy day in Rome saw just under 50,000 spectators gather at the Olimpico for this last game of 1995.

Lazio were without goalkeeper Luca Marchegiani and defender Beppe Favalli.

Atalanta had midfielders Walter Bonacina and Fabio Gallo missing.

The visitors had a defensive and cautious approach. They hoped to resist Lazio's attacks and strike on the break.

Lazio were immediately dangerous with a Beppe Signori shot which Fabrizio Ferron parried and then a Roberto Di Matteo long range effort but the keeper blocked. The Biancocelesti insisted and soon after Signori dummied a cross on a free kick but instead cleverly set up Gigi Casiraghi in front of goal, the centre-forward tried to lob the keeper who however read his intentions and saved. Diego Fuser then took a thundering long-range free kick but Ferron did well to stop it despite a slight deflection.

In the 14th minute Lazio went in front. Fuser took a corner from the left and Aron Winter jumped up on the front post and headed in, 1-0.

The Orobici almost equalised when a Sandro Tovalieri shot was deflected by Nando Orsi onto the post.

In the 42nd minute Signori with a through ball put Alen Boksic one-on-one with Ferron. The big Croat pushed the ball past the keeper who then pulled him down for a penalty. Signori took his habitual no run-up spot kick and sent Ferron the wrong way, 2-0.

At half time Lazio were deservedly two goals up.

In the second half the Bergamaschi came on more determined. They almost scored when Marco Sgrò burst into the area and hit a low, cross goal shot which Orsi touched behind for a corner with the tip of his fingers.

A few minutes later the visitors did score. In the 50th minute Domenico Morfeo astutely backheeled to Stefano Salvatori who ran into the area on the right and crossed low to Sandro Tovalieri who with another brilliant backheel flick beat Orsi, 2-1. Game on?

Not for long. A minute later Lazio regained a two-goal cushion. In the 51st minute Di Matteo pushed the ball to Boksic on the left side of the box and the "Alien", despite a seemingly impossible angle and being challenged by a defender, managed to put the ball over Ferron into the far top hand corner, 3-1

In the 54th minute the referee awarded Lazio a second penalty for Signori being held back by Mauro Valentini when about to shoot in front of Ferron. The diminutive forward, a Bergamasco himself, smashed a central penalty into the roof of the net, 4-1.

The contest was practically over. In the 61st minute Roberto Rambaudi came on for Casiraghi while in the 68th Dario Marcolin replaced Fuser and at the same time the Nerazzurri took off defender Cristiano Pavone and midfielder Morfeo and threw on midfielder Franco Rotella and forward Federico Pisani.

Atalanta tried to reduce the deficit but Orsi was reactive on a José Herrera header which he punched over for a corner.

Lazio too had more chances but Signori maybe did not want to "hat-trick" his co-regionals.

In the 85th minute the Dea made one last change, bringing on Marco Zanchi for Salvatori.

There was still time for one last Lazio goal. In the 88th minute Signori teed up Boksic on the left in front of Ferron, the keeper dived low and the ball spun up into the air where Winter was ready to head it, 5-1.

A convincing win by the Biancocelesti. The trio Winter-Boksic-Signori in particular had worked well but the whole team had looked sharp.

Lazio were now 4th on 25 points, they had overtaken Juventus on 24.

Atalanta were 7th on 22 points.

Who played for Lazio

Orsi, Gottardi, Nesta, Di Matteo, Negro, Chamot, Signori, Fuser (68' Marcolin), Casiraghi (61' Rambaudi), Winter, Boksic