May 3, 1942: Bologna-Lazio 2-2
- Dag Jenkins
- 9 hours ago
- 6 min read
Good comeback point in Bologna
Lazio come back from two goals down against the reigning champions to earn a draw.
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 14th (out of 16) so only narrowly escaped relegation. They had three different managers: Hungarian Géza Kertész (1-6), compatriot Ferenc Molnár (7-17) and Dino Canestri (18-30). The highlight was beating Roma 2-0 with two goals by Silvio Piola, the other derby was 1-1. Lazio reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia after eliminating Triestina, Milan and Spezia but then lost to Venezia 1-3 away. Top scorer was Piola with 10 league goals.
This season the manager was Austrian Alexander Popovic and things were going better. The main new players were: defender Maximiliano Faotto (back from Napoli), midfielder Bruno Camolese (back from Vicenza) and Albanian forward Loro Boriçi (Vllaznia Scutari).
Leaving were: midfielder Vittorio Dagianti (Salernitana) and forward Umberto Lombardini (Ala Littoria - on loan).
So, not many important changes to the squad but Lazio were currently 5th on 25 points. The Biancocelesti had won 9 (including Bologna 5-1), drawn 7 and lost 7 (including derby 1-2). A week earlier they had beaten Napoli 1-0 at home.
In the Coppa Italia the Biancocelesti had been eliminated by Milano (A.C Milan) 2-4 in the last 16.
Bologna were reigning champions. They had won their 6th title, under Austrian manager Hermann Felsner. The Rossoblu had beaten Lazio 4-2 in Rome and drawn 2-2 at home (in the last game when they were already champions), Top scorer was Uruguayan Ettore Puricelli.
This season Felsner was still in charge but they had lost several of their players who had been called up for the army. Other players leaving were: defender Arturo Boniforti (Pro Patria), Giordano Corsi (Vis Pesaro), midfielder Giovanni Ferrari (Juventus) and forward Bruno Maini (Ferrara, after 283 league games).
Arriving were: defender Arcangelo Zerbini (Ravenna - back from loan), midfielders Vittorio Malagoli (Reggiana), Franco Marchi (Rovigo) and forwards Bruno Arcari (Milano), Dante Nardi (Carpi - back from loan) and Giovanni Busoni (Ascoli - back from loan).
Bologna were currently in joint 8th place, on 23 points with Triestina. The Felsinei had won 10 (including Milano 3-1 and Juventus 2-0 at home), drawn 3 and lost 10. A week earlier the Rossoblu had lost 1-2 away to Sampierdarenese.
In the Coppa Italia the Emiliani had gone out in the quarter finals 0-2 to Venezia.
A balanced game was expected today. Bologna were champions but two points behind the Romans in the table.
The match: Sunday, May 3, 1942, Stadio Littoriale, Bologna
A sunny day in Bologna with a slight breeze saw just under 10,000 spectators at the Littoriale.
Lazio had important absences in midfielder Luciano Ramella and striker Silvio Piola, plus Uber Gradella was playing but had a temperature. Bologna were missing forward Bruno Arcari.
The Rossoblu started with the wind behind them and attacked. Amedeo Biavati was particularly active and sent several inviting crosses into the area.
In the 17th minute they took the lead. Italo Romagnoli cleared a first effort then Hector (or Ettore) Puricelli volleyed an assist to Carlo Reguzzoni who scored from close range. Bologna 1 Lazio 0.
Two minutes later the hosts doubled their lead. Michele Andreolo scored with a powerful free kick to make it 2-0.
Lazio were not disheartened and hit back. In the 27th minute they were unlucky and the woodwork denied them a goal.
Lazio now attacked more but Bologna had chances too as when Gradella had to pull off a brilliant save on a Puricelli header.
In the 42nd minute Lazio pulled a goal back. Giuseppe Baldo teed up Silvestro Pisa who beat Pietro Ferrari from close range. Bologna 2 Lazio 1 at half time.
In the second half both keepers proved to be on top form, both denying further scores by the forwards.
In the 63rd minute Salvador Gualtieri was one-on-one with the keeper but Ferrari saved again.
A minute later however he capitulated but only on a penalty. Dino Fiorini handballed and Baldo made no mistake with the spot kick. Bologna 2 Lazio 2.
The rest of the game saw both sides trying to win it with chances each but the keepers were safe. The best save came from Gradella on a spectacular volley by Andreolo. Final score 2-2.
A fair result in the end after an entertaining game. Bologna were no longer the Scudetto winning team but it was still a good result for Lazio. Despite their absences, Gradella's health (but he had a great game) and being 0-2 down, Lazio had come away with a point.
Lazio were still 5th while Bologna were still joint 8th with Triestina.
Who played for Bologna
Ferrari, Fiorini, Pagotto, Malagoli, Andreolo, Marchese, Biavati, Sansone, Puricelli, Nardi, Reguzzoni
Manager: Felsner
Who played for Lazio
Gradella, Romagnoli II, Monza II, Fazio, Borici, Ferri, Baldo, Pisa I, Gualtieri, Flamini, Puccinelli
Manager: Popovic
Referee: Pizziolo
Goals: 16' Reguzzoni, 19' Andreolo, 42' Baldo, 64' Baldo (pen)
What happened next
Lazio finished strongly and came joint 4th with Genoa on 37 points. In the last 6 matches the Biancocelesti won 5 (including Juventus 2-1 at home and Milano 5-2 away) and 1 draw against Roma 1-1. Top scorer was Silvio Piola with 21 goals (18 in A)
Bologna finished 7th. They then won 2 (including Livorno 7-1), drew 1 (Juventus 1-1 away) and lost 3. Top scorer was Puricelli with 16 goals (14 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Roma while Napoli and Modena went down to Serie B.
Let’s talk about Michele Andreolo
Miguel Ángel Andriolo Frodella was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, on September 6, 1912. In Italy he became known as Michele Andreolo. His family were originally from Valle dell'Angelo near Salerno. In Uruguay he had been nicknamed "el Chivo".
His first club was local Libertad F.C but in 1932 he was signed by Nacional Montevideo, the big tricolores. He played three seasons for Nacional and won two league titles, in 1934 and 1935. He was one of the heroes of the "clásico de los 9 contra 11" when Nacional defeated rivals Peñarol despite playing in nine men. Andreolo played 35 league games.
In 1935 he arrived in Europe to Bologna but was relatively unknown. Bologna immediately won the Scudetto under Hungarian Árpád Weisz. Andreolo played 30 league games with 4 goals, 2 games in Coppa Italia and 2 in the Central European Cup.
He then stayed another seven seasons. He played another 165 league games with 19 goals. Bologna won another three league titles (1937, 1939 and 1941).
In 1943 he signed for Lazio. Due to the war football was limited to regional games. Lazio won the Roman War League (a tournament between local clubs including Roma). Andreolo played 15 games with 1 goal, under manager Dino Canestri.
In 1944-45 Lazio finished 2nd, still under Canestri. Andreolo played 23 games (in War League, Roman Cup and an Interregional tournament) with 3 goals.
After the war in 1945 he joined Napoli. He stayed three seasons, playing 93 games with 11 goals (including Roma). Napoli finished 5th, 8th and 21st (relegated). His managers were compatriot Raffaele Sansone for two seasons, Giovanni Vecchina and then Arnaldo Sentimenti II (Vittorio, Lucidio and Primo's brother).
In 1948 Andreolo joined Catania for a season. The Rossoblu were in Serie C and won promotion to Serie B, under Giovanni Degni (1-8) and then József Bánás. Andreolo only played 8 league games.
In 1949 he joined his last club Forti e Liberi (modern day Forlì) and won promotion to Serie C. At 37 he then retired.
He then had a brief coaching career: Marsala in the 4th tier in 1953-54 with a 7th place and Taranto in Serie B in Serie B finishing 11th.
At international level he earned one cap for Uruguay. He was in the squad that won the Copa America in 1935. In the same year he obtained Italian citizenship. He then played 26 times for Italy with 1 goal (Belgium in a friendly). He won the 1938 World Cup playing every game. He was included in the 1938 World Cup All-Star Team.
Andreolo was a central midfielder. He was small at 1.69 and 71 kilos but extremely dynamic. He had an excellent career especially at Bologna where he is a legend, winning four league titles and the biggest prize in football, the World Cup for Italy
At Lazio he arrived during the difficult war years but had the satisfaction of winning the Roman War League.
Andreolo died in Potenza, on May 15, 1981.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Roman War Championship | Other competitions |
1943-44 | 15 (1) | 14 (1) | 1 |
1944-45 | 23 (3) | 14 (2) | 9 (1) |
Total | 38 (4) | 28 (3) | 10 (1) |
Sources