May 13 2012: Lazio - Inter 3-1
- Dag Jenkins
- 2 days ago
- 9 min read
Lazio clinch 4th place with second half comeback
Inter well on top in first half but Lazio play brilliant second to clinch satisfying win
The season so far
Lazio had narrowly missed out on Champions League the previous season with 5th place behind Udinese.
This year Edy Reja had been confirmed but there had been a few changes to the squad.
The main novelty was in goal, as Lazio had bought Federico Marchetti from Cagliari while Fernando Muslera went to Galatasaray, in Turkey. The other main new arrivals were defenders Abdoulay Konko (Genoa) and Lorik Cana (Galatasaray), midfielder Senad Lulic (Young Boys, a name to watch out for… Lulic that is), forwards Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos) and above all Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich).
The main players leaving were defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus), midfielder Pasquale Foggia (Sampdoria), forwards Sergio Floccari (Parma - on loan) and Mauro Zarate (Inter - on loan with clause to buy).
In the winter session midfielder Antonio Candreva arrived (Cesena - loan) and defenders Guglielmo Stendardo (Atalanta - on loan) and forward Djibril Cissé (QPR) had left.
The season did not start particularly well with 2 points in the first 3 games but then it improved. Lazio had fought for a Champions League qualification but ultimately fell short with a 0-2 defeat at Udine at the end of April. Lazio were currently 4th on 59 points. They had won 17 (including both derbies 2-1 and Milan 2-0 at home), drawn 8 and lost 12. The highlights had obviously been beating Roma twice. There had also been some unexpected and heavy defeats (Siena 4-0, Palermo 5-1) and some other bad slip ups (Catania 0-1, Novara 1-2 away, Bologna 1-3 at home) which had compromised Lazio's Champions chances.
There was still an extremely slender chance as Udinese were 3rd on 61 only two points above but their opponents today were Catania who were in mid-table and had nothing to play for (the Bianconeri also only needed a point).
In Europa League Lazio got through the preliminary round against Rabotnicki (Macedonia), winning 6-0 and 3-1. In the group stage with Vaslui (2-2,0-0), Sporting Lisbon (1-2, 2-0) and Zurich (1-1, 1-0), they qualified in second place. This gave them a tough tie against Atletico Madrid which they lost 1-3 and 0-1.
In the Coppa Italia Lazio were eliminated in the quarter finals by Milan 3-1. The Biancocelesti had previously beaten Verona 3-2 at home.
Today's opposition Inter had finished 2nd in Serie A the previous season, behind city rivals Milan. The Nerazzurri however had won the Coppa Italia (Palermo 3-1), the Supercoppa Italiana (Roma 3-1) and the Club World Cup (TP Mazembe 3-0). The manager was first Rafa Benitez (1-15) and then Leonardo (16-38). The games against Lazio had ended up 3-1 to the Biancocelesti in Rome and 2-1 to Inter in Milan. The top scorer was Samuel Eto'o with 37 goals (21 in A).
This season the manager was first Gian Piero Gasperini (1-4) then Claudio Ranieri (5-29) and now Andrea Stramaccioni.
The main new signings were: defender Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena), midfielders Ricardo Álvarez (Vélez Sarsfield) plus forwards Luc Castaignos (Feyenoord), Diego Furlan (Atlético Madrid) and Mauro Zarate (Lazio - on loan). In January Inter had also added defender Juan Jesus (Internacional de Porto Alegre) and midfielder Fredy Guarin (Porto).
Leaving Inter were: defenders Marco Materazzi (retiring, after 276 games with Inter) and Davide Santon (Newcastle United), midfielder Houssine Kharja (Genoa - end of loan then Fiorentina) plus forwards Samuel Eto'o (Anži-Russia) and Goran Pandev (Napoli - on loan). In January midfielders Philippe Coutinho (Espanyol - on loan), Sulley Muntari (Milan) and Thiago Motta (PSG) had also left.
In August Inter had started the season by losing the Supercoppa final to Milan 1-2 in Beijing. A sign of things to come.
Inter were currently joint 5th with Napoli in Serie A. The Nerazzurri had 58 points after 17 wins (including both derbies 1-0 and 4-2, Lazio 2-1), 7 draws (including Palermo 4-4 at home) and 13 defeats (including Roma 0-4 away and Novara 0-1 at home). They were already guaranteed the Europa League in some form as 7th placed Roma were on 53.
In the Coppa Italia they too had fallen in the quarter-finals (Napoli 0-2 away).
In the Champions League they had been eliminated in the last 16 by Olympique Marseille on away goals (0-1 away, 2-1 at home). In the group phase they had won 3 (CSKA Moscow 3-2 and Lille 1-0 away and Lille 2-1 at home), drawn 1 (Trabzonspor 1-1 away) and lost 2 (Trabzonspor 0-1 and CSKA Moscow 2-3 both at home).
A disappointing season for the Biscione.
Unless Udinese messed up, today's game counted for the final positions between 4th and 6th and to finish the season well. The 6th place meant a Europa League playoff while 4th and 5th sent you directly in. Lazio could definitely clinch 4th place but Inter with a win could leapfrog the Biancocelesti. The final positions also depended on joint 5th placed Napoli who played Siena at home.
The match: Sunday, May 13, 2012, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A good crowd of 50,000 turned up to bid farewell to another season and maybe hope for miraculous news from Catania.
Lazio were without keeper Federico Marchetti, defender Stefan Radu, midfielders Hernanes, Cristian Brocchi and Francelino Matuzalém plus forwards Miro Klose and Tommaso Rocchi.
Inter were missing keeper Julio César, midfielders Dejan Stankovic, Joel Obi and Wesley Sneijder plus forward Mauro Zarate.
In the first half Inter had more territorial control and possession while Lazio looked as if they could be dangerous on the break.
The first dangerous shot at goal was an excellent left-footed long range effort by Fredy Guarin but Albano Bizzarri tipped it over the bar.
Guarin threatened again when after a one-two with Diego Milito the Colombian burst into the area but his shot was low and central and Bizzarri blocked.
Then it was Milito's turn to scare Lazio but his header from a Maicon cross shaved the right post. The Argentine forward then fired his next chance over the bar from the edge of the box.
Lazio occasionally had space to do some damage but lacked precision in the last passes.
Just before half time Inter were awarded a penalty. In the 45th minute Cristian Ledesma made a lunging tackle and caught Maicon on the chalk line of the box and the Brazilian fell inside. The referee indicated a spotkick, probably the right decision. Milito took it and did not miss, 0-1.
Lazio almost gave away another goal early straight away when a sloppy back pass by Giuseppe Biava put Milito in front of goal but Bizzarri raced off his line and prevented the former Genoa player from going round him.
Halftime: Lazio 0 Inter 1. A deserved lead so far for the visitors who had been more positive and dangerous.
There were no changes for the second half. What changed was Lazio's approach, now much better. Antonio Candreva tried his luck with a venomous strike from the distance which bounced in front of goal but Luca Castellazzi parried away into corner.
In the 59th minute Lazio equalised. From a Stefano Mauri corner from the left, Libor Kozak rose up in a crowded area and headed in, 1-1.
In the 61st minute came the first substitution, striker Giampaolo Pazzini for Ricardo Ávarez.
Two minutes later Lazio were in front. Senad Lulic went on one of his formidable runs down the left and pulled the ball back to the edge of the box where Candreva controlled it, pushed it forward slightly and blasted a low shot past Castellazzi, 2-1. An incredible turnaround in the space of four minutes.
Inter reacted with a Lucio shot over the bar and an almost own goal by Lazio when a low cross by Maicon was deflected onto the post by Biava to anticipate Pazzini.
In the 76th minute Inter took off midfielder Andrea Poli and put on forward Samuele Longo.
Both sides were tired now and the game could have gone either way
In the 82nd minute Lazio put on a more defensive midfielder Álvaro González for an exhausted Lulic.
Lazio then absorbed Inter's pressure well and in the 91st minute put the game out of the Nerazzurri's reach. Mauri hooked a clever ball to Candreva who set up Kozak in front of Castellazzi, though to the left, the Czech forward tried to go round him but the keeper stood his ground so he tried to lob him and the keeper slapped the ball away but into Mauri's path who hammered it low into the back of the net, 3-1.
The game was over there was only time for one more substitution each: Javier Garrido for Mauri and Juan Jesus for Milito. Final score: Lazio 3 Inter 1.
An entertaining game. Inter were superior in the first half but in the second Lazio had changed gear and with their pace had blown Inter away.
Unfortunately Udinese had won 2-0 in Catania so there were no Champions League celebrations. The win however meant Lazio finished 4th and would go straight into the Europa League group stage.
Inter on the other hand ended up 6th as Napoli had beaten Siena 2-1. This meant the Nerazzurri would have to start the Europa League from the playoffs in early August, not the ideal way to prepare for the season.
Who played for Lazio
Bizzarri, Scaloni, Diakité, Biava, Konko, Cana, Ledesma, Candreva, Mauri (92' Garrido), Lulic (82' A.Gonzalez), Kozak
Manager: Reja
Who played for Inter
Castellazzi, Maicon, Lúcio, Samuel, Nagatomo, Cambiasso, Zanetti, Guarin, Poli (76' Longo), Álvarez (61' Pazzini), Milito (92' Juan Jesus)
Manager: Stramaccioni
Referee: Damato
Goals: 45' Milito (pen), 59' Kozak, 63' Candreva, 91' Mauri
What happened next
Lazio therefore finished 4th on 62 points. A decent season with two derby triumphs (enough to rehabilitate even the most mediocre season) but without the satisfaction of Champions League. The top scorer was Miro Klose with 15 goals (12 in A).
Next season Vladimir Petkovic was on his way, with May 26 included…
Inter finished a poor season in 6th place. Too much chopping and changing and possibly not giving Gasperini enough time. He lost two out of four but his sacking probably came too soon. The top scorer was Diego Milito with 26 goals (24 in A).
The following season Stramaccioni surprisingly stayed on but things got worse.
Serie A champions were Juventus for the 28th time while Serie B awaited Cesena, Novara and Lecce.
Let's talk about Alessandro Berardi
Alessandro Berardi was born in Rome, on January 16, 1991.
He joined Lazio as a boy and in 2009 was added to the first team squad but also continued playing with the U-19s. He stayed three seasons as third keeper and occasionally second but never made his debut. His managers were Davide Ballardini briefly and Edy Reja.
In 2012-13 he went to Verona on loan in Serie B. He played one league game under Andrea Mandorlini and the Scaligeri finished 2nd and promoted.
In 2013-14 he joined Salernitana on loan in Lega Pro 1 (3rd tier). He played 6 league games and 6 in the LP Coppa Italia. The managers were Stefano Sanderra, Carlo Perrone and finally Angelo Gregucci (all three with future or past Lazio connections). The Granata finished 9th but won the Lega Pro Coppa Italia. His teammates included several players with Lazio ties; Pasquale Foggia (2006-07, 2008-11, 2012-13), Alessandro Tuia (2007-09), Riccardo Perpetuini (2008-10, 2010-11, 2013), Ettore Mendicino (2008-09) and Enrico Zampa (2010-12, 2014).
In 2014-15 he was again sent out on loan this time to Grosseto in Lega Pro. He played 3 league games under Massimo Silva and then Pasquale Padalino before leaving in January and moving to Messina on loan. The Maremmani eventually finished 11th.
In Messina, in Lega Pro, from January 15 he played 12 league games and 2 games in the relegation playoffs, first under Gianluca Grassadonia and then Nello Di Costanzo. The Giallorossi finished 15th, lost the playoffs but stayed up due to other teams financial problems.
At this point his contract with Lazio expired and he signed a two-year contract with Messina. He played another 60 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. The Peloritani finished 7th under Arturo Di Napoli (1-20) and Raffaele Di Napoli (21-34) and 14th under Salvatore Marra (1-9) and Cristiano Lucarelli (10-38). The Sicilians then went bust and started again at amateur level in Serie D and Berardi moved on.
In 2017-18 he was with Bari in Serie B. He made no appearances (the main keeper was Alessandro Micai) under Fabio Grosso and the Galletti finished 7th. There were three Lazio connections in the squad: Modibo Diakitè (2006-13), Libor Kozak (2008-09, 2010-13) and Djavan Anderson (2018, 2019-21)
His last club were Verona between 2018 and 2025. In seven seasons he only played 2 league games (both in A). The Gialloblu finished 5th in B (promoted via playoffs), 9th, 10th, 9th, 17th (safe via playoff), 13th and 14th. His managers included Fabio Grosso, Alfredo Aglietti, Ivan Juric (two seasons), Eusebio Di Francesco, Igor Tudor, Salvatore Bocchetti, Marco Zaffaroni, Marco Baroni and Paolo Zanetti. His teammates included Lazio connections: Davide Faraoni (Lazio as a boy), Matteo Zaccagni (2021- ), Nicolò Casale (2022-24), Tijjani Noslin (2024- ) and Reda Belahyane (2025-).
Berardi then retired at 34 .
Berardi was a goalkeeper of 1,85 m. He was groomed by Lazio but never broke through to be first keeper. He then played for various clubs but only appeared regularly for Messina in the 3rd tier.
Sources
Comments