October 4, 1953: Lazio Juventus 2-1
A Dominant Victory at the Olimpico
Lazio’s first victory at the new Olimpico was a statement of intent, as the Biancocelesti outplayed Juventus and secured a deserved 2–1 win
The season so far
The previous season had been a disappointment so a lot was spent on reinforcing the side for the 1953-54 season. Alberto Fontanesi, Pasquale Viviolo and Renzo Burini arrived in the summer and fan favourite Flacco Flamini returned from his spell at Reggiana in the autumn transfer window.
After the first three games of the season, Lazio had just one point having lost both their away games and drawn at home with Legnano.
The match: Sunday, October 4, 1953, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio produced one of their most impressive performances, defeating Juventus 2–1 at the Stadio Olimpico in front of a huge crowd of around 70,000 spectators. The scoreline barely reflected the balance of the game: Lazio were overwhelmingly superior for long periods and could easily have won by a wider margin.
From the opening minutes, the Biancocelesti took control. Sergio Manente was forced to concede a corner when Aldo Puccinelli broke forward, and from the resulting set piece Vittorio Bergamo's header required a difficult save from Giovanni Viola. Four minutes later, Primo Sentimenti V tested the Juventus goalkeeper again with a long-range effort that took a deflection off Rino Ferrario.
Juventus offered occasional danger, particularly through Karl Age Praest, who went close after beating Renato Spurio in the sixth minute and shot over the bar four minutes later. But Lazio continued to create the better chances. Pasquale Vivolo, Renzo Burini and Per Bredesen combined in a powerful attack in the 16th minute, while Burini and Alberto Fontanesi both tested Viola before the half-hour mark. In the 30th minute, the Juventus goalkeeper produced one of his best saves of the afternoon, somehow keeping out Fontanesi's shot with his foot. Just before half-time, Puccinelli was unable to turn a ball into the net after Viola had lost possession.
Lazio's dominance became even more pronounced after the interval. After two unsuccessful corners, the breakthrough finally came in the 54th minute. Vivolo worked the ball down the right and picked out Puccinelli, who struck a fierce diagonal shot beyond Viola to give Lazio the lead.
Juventus were unable to produce the expected response. Lucidio Sentimenti IV had little to do in the Lazio goal, while the Biancocelesti continued to press forward. Their tireless wing play was one of the decisive features of the match, with Francesco Antonazzi, Sentimenti V, Bergamo and Luigi Fuin repeatedly breaking up Juventus attacks and immediately turning defence into attack.
Lazio doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute. Puccinelli won another corner and delivered into the area, where Fontanesi, despite being tightly marked by two defenders, managed to get his head to the ball and direct it into the left-hand corner. Viola was rooted to the spot as Lazio moved 2–0 ahead.
The home side continued to threaten. Fontanesi came close in the 73rd minute, while Burini went narrowly wide on three occasions. Vivolo, meanwhile, had been forced to drop deeper after taking a heavy challenge, but Lazio remained firmly in control.
The visitors eventually found a consolation goal two minutes from time, and even that came in controversial circumstances. From Juventus' only corner of the match, John Hansen went down inside the Lazio penalty area. The Juventus players appealed for a penalty, while the Lazio defenders indicated that the Danish forward had gone to ground deliberately. Referee Agnolin nevertheless pointed to the spot. Hansen took responsibility himself and sent Sentimenti IV the wrong way with a well-placed shot to make it 2–1.
The goal could not disguise the gulf between the teams. Juventus were booed by their own supporters at the final whistle, while Lazio celebrated a prestigious victory that promised much for the remainder of the championship. The Biancocelesti had won nine corners to Juventus' one, and Viola had repeatedly been forced to rescue his side.
It was an especially significant occasion for Lazio as well because, only four days earlier, on September 30, they had become the first Roman club to train at the newly completed Stadio Olimpico. Their impressive performance against Juventus provided an early glimpse of what the new stadium might come to mean for the Biancocelesti.
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Sentimenti V, Fuin, Spurio, Bergamo; Puccinelli, Burini, Vivolo, Bredesen, Fontanesi
Manager: Sperone
Who played for Juventus
Viola, Bertuccelli, Manente, Parola, Ferrario, Oppezzo II, Muccinelli, Montico, Praest, J.Hansen, Gimona
Manager: Olivieri
Manager: Olivieri
Referee: Agnolin
Goals: 54' Puccinelli, 62' Fontanesi (I), 88' J.Hansen (rig).
What happened next
If Lazio’s first half of the season was at least decent, the second half was rather dismal and included seven consecutive losses between March and April 1954, one of them being in the derby. The last games of the season went a little bit better and so relegation was comfortably avoided, but the fans really had expected more.
Francesco Antonazzi was the player with most appearances (33) and the top scorers were Fontanesi and Vivolo with nine goals each.
What happened in Serie A 1953-54
The previous season had seen Inter win the Scudetto with a two-point lead over Juventus and four more points than Milan. The Nerazzurri had a six-point lead over the Rossoneri and seven over the Bianconeri at the end of the first half of the season. They maintained their advantage until the end, slowing down only in the finale.
They were obviously favourites for this season too, together with the other two usual suspects, Milan and Juventus.
September
Inter and Napoli won their first three games and went top, followed by Fiorentina, Juventus and surprise package Novara.
Inter 6, Napoli 6, Fiorentina 5, Juventus 5, Novara 5, Roma 4, Bologna 4, Palermo 3, Sampdoria 3, Triestina 3, Legnano 2, Milan 2, SPAL 2, Lazio 1, Genoa 1, Udinese 1, Torino 1, Atalanta 0
October
In the fourth fixture, Lazio beat Juventus in Rome. Fiorentina also won, while Inter and Napoli drew, leaving a trio of teams at the top. But 90 minutes later, Inter beat the Viola at home and went top on their own, maintaining the lead throughout the month.
Inter 12, Napoli 11, Fiorentina 10, Juventus 10, Milan 9, Roma 8, Bologna 8, Sampdoria 7, Novara 7, SPAL 7, Genoa 6, Palermo 5, Triestina 5, Udinese 5, Lazio 5, Legnano 4, Torino 4, Atalanta 3
November
Inter beat Milan and Napoli and drew with Juventus, keeping their one-point lead. Fiorentina and Juventus were now level in second place. The Rome derby ended in a 1-1 draw. It was still very tight both at the top and at the bottom.
Inter 18, Fiorentina 17, Juventus 17, Milan 15, Napoli 14, Roma 14, Sampdoria 13, Bologna 11, SPAL 10, Novara 10, Lazio 9, Palermo 9, Triestina 8, Udinese 7, Genoa 7, Torino 7, Atalanta 6, Legnano 6
December
In the 12th fixture, Inter fell at home against Udinese, while Fiorentina drew with Milan and Juventus, after hammering Roma 3-0, took the lead. However, this lasted just 90 minutes, since in the next round the Bianconeri were beaten by Milan and the Nerazzurri, winning in Novara, regained the lead.
Inter 22, Juventus 20, Fiorentina 20, Milan 18, Sampdoria 17, Napoli 16, Roma 15, Bologna 14, Lazio 14, Novara 13, Udinese 12, SPAL 11, Triestina 11, Torino 11, Palermo 11, Atalanta 9, Genoa 9, Legnano 7**
*one game in hand
January
In the 16th fixture, Inter drew with Torino, allowing Fiorentina and Juventus to reduce the gap to just one point. In the next round they were all together at the top, following victories for the Viola against Atalanta and the Bianconeri in Naples, while Inter were held in Trieste. Juventus then drew at Triestina in the last match of the month, leaving Fiorentina and Inter as the leading duo.
Down below it was still rather close, although Legnano had to pull their socks up as soon as possible.
Fiorentina 28, Inter 28, Juventus 27, Milan 23, Roma 21, Napoli 20, Sampdoria 18, Lazio 17, Bologna 17, Genoa 17, Torino 17, Novara 16, SPAL 14, Triestina 14, Palermo 14, Udinese 12, Atalanta 11, Legnano 10
February
In the 20th fixture, Fiorentina and Juventus drew, while Inter were unable to beat SPAL away. Ninety minutes later, Fiorentina left the Nerazzurri behind after winning in Palermo, while Inter were again held to a draw, this time by Legnano. The big clash at the end of the month, Fiorentina-Inter, ended 1-1. Juventus won away to Sampdoria and joined Inter in second place.
The last four teams were all on 15 points. The battle to avoid relegation was becoming increasingly uncertain.
Fiorentina 34, Juventus 33, Inter 33, Milan 29, Napoli 24, Roma 23, Bologna 23, Lazio 21, Sampdoria 21, Torino 20, Genoa 20, Novara 19, Udinese 18, SPAL 18, Legnano 15, Atalanta 15, Palermo 15, Triestina 15
March
Juventus drew the derby in the 23rd fixture and lost a point, but everything changed in the next round. Fiorentina fell at home against Genoa, Inter drew in Rome and the Bianconeri, by beating Legnano, joined the Viola and Nerazzurri at the top.
Inter then lost the Milan derby but recovered a point in the final game of the month, when both Fiorentina and Juventus were held to draws.
Below, Lazio lost all four of their March games, while Genoa managed just one point. The relegation battle was now open to nine teams, with Legnano having a lot of work to do in the final eight games.
Fiorentina 39, Juventus 39, Inter 38, Milan 34, Napoli 28, Roma 28, Bologna 28, Torino 27, Sampdoria 25, Novara 23, Atalanta 22, Lazio 21, Genoa 21, Udinese 20, SPAL 20, Triestina 20, Palermo 19, Legnano 16
April
The 27th fixture saw Inter face Juventus, and the Nerazzurri took the Bianconeri to the cleaners with a 6-0 victory. Fiorentina had a great chance to move back to the top but were surprisingly beaten at home by Lazio, putting Inter in front.
It did not last long. In the next round, the Nerazzurri fell in Naples, Fiorentina were held in Trieste and Juventus returned to the top after beating SPAL at home. Ninety minutes later, Juve drew in Rome and Fiorentina were beaten by Milan, allowing Inter to join the Bianconeri at the top.
At the other end Lazio and Genoa moved into safer waters, while Legnano were practically in Serie B. Four teams were fighting to avoid one relegation place, with five games left.
Inter 42, Juventus 42, Fiorentina 40, Milan 37, Roma 33, Napoli 33, Bologna 32, Torino 30, Sampdoria 28, Atalanta 26, Novara 26, Lazio 25, Genoa 25, SPAL 22, Triestina 22, Udinese 21, Palermo 20, Legnano 18
May
Fiorentina never recovered and, after drawing twice in a row in May, abandoned the Scudetto hunt. In the 32nd fixture, Juventus lost in Bergamo and Inter drew at Palermo, leaving the Nerazzurri as sole leaders. They won their final two games and were crowned champions.
At the bottom there was a dramatic turn of events. With 90 minutes left, Legnano, Udinese, Palermo and SPAL were all on 24 points. Legnano had made a remarkable recovery after appearing dead in the water at the end of April. They then beat Napoli, beat Udinese and drew with Torino and Roma.
The final games were Novara-Legnano, Udinese-Torino, Bologna-Palermo and SPAL-Genoa. Udinese, Palermo and SPAL won, while Legnano drew and were relegated. The other three therefore needed a play-off to decide which team would join Legnano in Serie B.
In the first game, Udinese beat SPAL 2-0. In the second, they drew 1-1 with Palermo, securing their survival. SPAL then beat Palermo 2-1 in the decisive game, meaning the Sicilians were relegated alongside Legnano.
Top scorer was Gunnar Nordahl of Milan with 23 goals.
Inter 51, Juventus 50, Milan 44, Fiorentina 44, Napoli 38, Roma 36, Bologna 36, Sampdoria 34, Torino 33, Atalanta 31, Lazio 29, Genoa 28, Triestina 28, Novara 27, Udinese 26, SPAL 26, Palermo 26, Legnano 25
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