A win for Vincenzo

Simon Basten
Nov 4, 2022
3 min read

Season 1979-80

Game 8, Serie A

Sunday, November, 4 1979

Stadio Olimpico Rome

Lazio Juventus 1-0

A week after the Paparelli assassination. Lazio beat Juventus thanks to an own goal

On October 28 Rome was ready for the first derby of the season. An hour before the match, Vincenzo Paparelli was sitting in Curva Nord having a sandwich. From the Curva Sud Giovanni Fiorillo fired two flares towards the Lazio Curva. They zig zagged over the top. For the third attempt, the Roma supporter lowered his aim. The flare hit Vincenzo Paparelli in the eye and killed him. He was 33 years of age and had two children.

What happened then was complete chaos. The Lazio fans did not want the game to go on but the police decided that it was best to play for security reasons. In a climate of warfare with few Lazio supporters left in the stands, the game was played. Every time the ball went into the stands with Lazio supporters, the fans did not give the ball back. Captain Pino Wilson and Bruno Giordano were forced to go under the Curva Nord in an attempt to calm the Laziali down. The game was a farce and finished 1-1. In the last minutes there was a clear penalty for Lazio but the ref decided that there was no way he was going to make matters worse. A game and day nobody will forget.

The match

A surreal atmosphere and despite it being a game against Juventus there were only 40,000 spectators. Many were afraid of violence. There was a big banner in Curva Sud with written “All together no to violence” from the Biancoceleste fans.

After four minutes Juve had a chance with Roberto Bettega who headed the ball high after a Claudio Gentile cross from the right.

Lazio fought back and went ahead in the 11th minute. Free kick from the right just outside the box, Bruno Giordano crossed towards the far post, Vincenzo Zucchini headed towards the goal, Dino Zoff saved but the ball hit Vinicio Verza and went in.

At this point the Biancocelesti were able to place themselves on the pitch in their favourite way, that is total and asphyxiating defence, and Juve were forced to do what they did not want, and that is to attack a well-guarded fort. The rest of the game was a bland unexciting, continuous and useless attempt by the Bianconeri to break down the Biancoceleste defensive wall. Lazio on the other hand were content with defending and blocking any Juventus initiatives. Domenico Marocchino had a chance in the second half but his volley in the 66th minute went wide. A Nando Viola shot from outside the box was tipped over the crossbar by Zoff then, in the final stages, Juve at full throttle and Lazio defending around keeper Massimo Cacciatori. Three free kicks for Juve in the last three minutes of the game put a lot of pressure on the Biancoceleste defence but neither Franco Causio, Beppe Furino nor Bettega were able to beat Cacciatori who also saved the last desperate shot from Antonello Cuccureddu.

A good win for Lazio and a special tribute to Vincenzo Paparelli.

Who played for Lazio

Cacciatori, Tassotti, Citterio, Wilson, Pighin, Zucchini, Garlaschelli, Labonia (71’ D’Amico), Giordano, Nicoli, Viola