Lazio and Signori resuscitate in Emilia

Dag Jenkins
Nov 17, 2022
3 min read

Updated: 7 days ago

Season 1996-97

Game 9, Serie A

Sunday, November 17, 1996

Stadio Galleana, Piacenza

Piacenza Lazio 1-3

A hat-trick by the number 11 gives Lazio much needed boost

The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home). Since then Lazio had won 2, drawn 2 (Fiorentina 0-0 and Inter 1-1 both away) and lost another 2 (the most recent two, Atalanta 1-2 away and Vicenza 0-2 at home). Lazio were currently 14th on 8 points, only one point from Serie B… (Cagliari on 7 points).

So far Piacenza had won 3, drawn 2 and lost 3. They were 13th on 11 points with Roma and Parma.

A difficult game to predict today. Piacenza were higher in the table and played at home where they had not conceded a goal in four games while Lazio seemed in crisis but had far more quality.

The match

A rainy day in Emilia saw just under 10,000 spectators gather in the small Galleana ground. Italy head coach Arrigo Sacchi was one of them.

Piacenza had the whole squad available while Lazio were missing defenders Beppe Favalli and Paolo Negro plus striker Igor Protti.

Piacenza fielded an entirely Italian XI, a rarity in Italian football even in those days.

Lazio went in front after only five minutes. Gigi Casiraghi received the ball from Pavel Nedved on the left side inside the area, cleverly turned on himself deceiving his marker and put in a low cross into the middle where Beppe Signori had a simple close-range tap-in which put Lazio ahead, 0-1.

Lazio were rampant and had several chances to double their lead. Massimo Taibi however was on form and saved a Nedved long range strike and a diving Casiraghi header.

Just as it seemed Lazio would score any minute the hosts equalised. In the 27th minute Giuseppe Scienza blasted a mid-height freekick through the wall which beat Luca Marchegiani on the right post, 1-1.

Lazio were not flustered by the unexpected setback and continued to dominate. In the 40th minute, from inside his own half, Mark Fish sent a long ball forward which found José Antonio Chamot in an uncharacteristic forward position and the Argentine skilfully flicked the ball on, past Settimio Lucci and surged into the area where he was brought down by Stefano Maccoppi for a clear penalty. Signori took it and as usual with no run-up placed a mid-height shot to Taibi's left, 1-2. A confidence boost for Beppe-gol who had missed a spot kick mid-week in a Coppa Italia game.

Lazio deservedly led going into the break.

For the second half the locals replaced winger Fabian Valtolina with forward Andrea Tentoni.

Any risk of another Piacenza comeback was quelled in the 54th minute when Signori scored again. Diego Fuser pushed the ball through to Signori centrally just inside the box where he astutely anticipated a defender and sent a low right-footed shot trickling past Taibi's right.

Lazio were in complete control and could have scored more. Casiraghi had opportunities, especially a one-on-one with Taibi but the future Manchester United keeper stood his ground and saved. In a similar situation some minutes later the Brianzolo striker went down for what looked like a penalty but the referee had other ideas.

Piacenza tried to change things with two role for role substitutions; Cleto Polonia for Paolo Tramezzani and Aladino Valoti for goal scorer Scienza but they made little difference.

In the 68th minute Lazio too replaced Alessandro Nesta with Roberto Baronio and Roberto Rambaudi with Renato Buso.