The Devil can wait

Dag Jenkins
May 31, 2024
4 min read

Season 1980-81

Game 35, Serie B

Sunday, May 31, 1981

Stadio San Siro, Milan

Milan-Lazio 1-1

Lazio take a point at San Siro to postpone Milan's promotion celebrations and boost their own hopes

So far Lazio had played 35 league games and won 12, drawn 17 and lost 5. Lazio had started well with 7 wins and 8 draws in the first 15 games. They then played Milan and lost, thus losing confidence and slowing down. Lazio's two previous games had been draws. The Biancocelesti were 3rd on 41 points together with Genoa. The table read Milan 46, Cesena 42, Lazio 41, Genoa 41, Sampdoria 39.

Promotion was more important and today was a very tricky game at San Siro against league leaders Milan.

Milan had 37 points after 17 wins (including Lazio 2-0), 12 draws and 5 defeats (but 4 in last 9 games including recent 0-1 home defeat to Pisa).

A big game in Milan today. Milan were almost assured promotion despite their recent struggles and could clinch it mathematically with a win. Lazio had more problems and needed to take something away from the San Siro to postpone the Devils' party.

The match

A hot and sunny day attracted 55,000 spectators to San Siro on what could be Milan's promotion celebration day. Lazio however could not afford to be mere bystanders and needed points themselves.

Lazio were missing defender Arcadio Spinozzi while Milan were without midfielder Stefano Cuoghi.

Milan started as if they were determined to get the promotion business over with as soon as possible.

In the 5th minute Walter Novellino back-heeled to defender Fulvio Collovati and the future World Champion hit it low towards goal but it deflected off Paolo Pochesci's shin and went behind for a corner.

A few minutes later Aldo Maldera fired a powerful freekick from about twenty metres but Dario Marigo pulled off a good save tipping it over the bar.

The next chance was for Collovati again but his header from a corner went high.

The goal came in the 16th minute. Collovati headed the ball forward from midfield and sent Ruben Buriani charging down the left where the blond midfielder went past Carlo Perrone and cut a pass back to Novellino who hit it first time and beat Marigo 1-0.

A deserved lead for the Rossoneri but that was their afternoon done with. The hosts practically stopped attacking and let Lazio take the initiative.

The Romans obliged but had difficulty at first to create anything dangerous. Then in the 32nd minute Ottorino Piotti fortuitously saved on Nando Viola and in the 35th saved well on a Giuseppe Greco freekick.

In the 40th minute Lazio thought they had levelled but referee Luigi Agnolin disallowed it. Greco scored on a freekick but the whistle had not been blown so it was all in vain. His repeated attempt then went wide.

Lazio threatened again just before the break but Piotti raced off his line and saved on Dario Sanguin. Half time: Milan 1 Lazio 0.

The Rossoneri had come out firing but once they got the goal had sat back and let Lazio do the bossing.

The second half was no different. The Devil was not as bad as he was made out and allowed the Eagles to attack.

It was not clear if Milan were hoping to have done enough and merely hold on or if they lacked desire or energy.

In the 65th minute the Rossoneri replaced midfielder Sergio Battistini with defender Alberto Minoia and a minute later Lazio changed Stefano Chiodi with Renzo Garlaschelli.

In the 68th minute Lazio's pressure paid off. The fresh legged Scudetto hero played Viola through in the area and the Piedmontese midfielder waited for Piotti to come off his line before switching the ball across to Alberto Bigon who dived forward and headed in, 1-1.

Milan had stopped playing 50 minutes ago and now Lazio decided to imitate them. The less said about the last 20 minutes the better.

Both teams settled for a point and nothing more happened. Final score: Milan 1 Lazio 1.

A decent point for Lazio in the promotion race and a deserved one too.

Whether down to Milan's passive attitude or Lazio's determination did not really matter at this stage.

Lazio were now joint 3rd with Genoa on 42 points. Cesena were 2nd on 44 and Sampdoria 5th on 40. Next up was Lazio vs Cesena, a huge game.

Milan failed to celebrate today but edged closer to promotion. They topped the table on 47 points so, with only three games to go, it was more just when rather than if they would go up.

Who played for Milan

Piotti, Tassotti, Maldera, De Vecchi, Collovati, Baresi, Buriani, Novellino, Antonelli, Battistini (65' Minoia), Romano

Substitutes: Incontri, Vincenzi, Carotti, Monzani

Manager: Giacomini

Who played for Lazio

Marigo, Pighin, Citterio, Perrone, Pochesci, Sanguin, Viola, Bigon, Chiodi (66' Garlaschelli), Mastropasqua, Greco