Catenaccio does not always pay dividends

Simon Basten
May 20, 2024
2 min read

Season 1955-56

Game 32, Serie A

Sunday, May 20, 1956

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Genoa 2-0

Despite Genoa's over defensiveness, Lazio managed to win

After the first half of the season Lazio were 13th just three points above the relegation zone. They had won five games but three away from home, including a great win in Milan against Inter. Jesse Carver, who had previously managed Juventus, Torino and Roma, had come in as new technical director in place of Roberto Copernico but had also taken over the manager role since Luigi Ferrero had resigned after just one game. In the second part of the season, the Biancocelesti had improved and were now third. They had won the return derby (which initially had been postponed due to snow!) and beaten Juventus.

A win today would be important to consolidate the current prestigious standing.

The match

Genoa wanted a draw and they were going to get there no matter what. Man marking all over the pitch and the classic “catenaccio”. Lazio attacked but found it hard to get through the defensive wall put up by the Genoese.

The Biancocelesti were unlucky in the first half with two clear penalties ignored by the referee. The first on Pasquale Vivolo, a blatant foul, was placed outside of the box despite it being in the penalty area. For the second one, a Fosco Becattini foul on Ermes Muccinelli as clear as day, the ref decided to look the other way.

But football has its laws and over defensiveness does not always pay. In the 55th minute Arne Selmosson took a corner, the ball was cleared by the defence but it reached Renzo Sassi who tried a shot. Benedetto De Angelis, in an attempt to save his goal, instead kicked it into his own net.

Forced to attack, the visitors almost equalised a minute after the own goal. Attilio Frizzi crossed, Riccardo Carapellese tried a header but a massive save by Bob Lovati denied him the goal. In the 69th Lazio could have made it two when a defensive blunder gave Renzo Burini the chance all alone in front of the keeper but he could not do better than shoot straight at him.

Again Genoa with a chance on a Lovati mistake, Carapellese passed to Antonio Corso who despite the favourable position, kicked the ball over the crossbar.

With only a few seconds left, Vivolo dispossessed Becattini, passed to Lorenzo Bettini who, despite being surrounded by defenders, managed to get the ball to Selmosson. The Swede moved to the left and let go a precise shot that Renato Gandolfi could do nothing about, 2-0 for Lazio and game over.

Who played for Lazio

Lovati, Molino, Lo Buono, Sassi II, Sentimenti V, Carradori, Muccinelli, Burini, Bettini, Vivolo, Selmosson