September 29, 1996: Lazio - Parma 2-1
Lazio have lift off
The Biancocelesti get their first league win at fourth attempt
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 3rd (UEFA) under manager Zdeněk Zeman. The highlights were beating Juventus 4-0, Sampdoria 6-3, Atalanta 5-1, Cagliari 4-0, Fiorentina 4-0 and especially Roma 1-0, all at home. Top scorer was Beppe Signori with 26 goals (24 in A).
This year the Bohemian stayed on. The main new signings were: South-African defender Mark Fish (Orlando Pirates), midfielders Pavel Nedved (Sparta Prague) and Paul Okon (Club Bruges) plus forward Igor Protti (Bari), previous year's top Serie A scorer with Signori.
Leaving were defender Cristiano Bergodi (Padova), midfielders Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea), Aron Winter (Inter) plus forwards Alen Boksic (Juventus) and Marco Di Vaio (Bari - on loan).
The Serie A campaign had started very badly with two defeats (Bologna 0-1 away and Udinese 0-1 at home) and then a 1-1 away draw at Inter. Lazio were currently 16th (in B zone), time to get a win.
Lazio had also started their Coppa Italia campaign on August 28 and had won 1-0 away at Avellino. Next up were Verona away on October 23.
In the UEFA Cup, the Biancocelesti had played the first leg of the round of 64 away at Lens, winning 1-0. On September 24, by drawing 1-1, they completed the revenge on the French side nineteen years after the humiliating 0-6 defeat in extra-time in 1977.
Parma had finished 6th (UEFA Cup) the previous season under Nevio Scala. The Gialloblu had beaten Lazio 2-1 at home but lost with the same score in Rome. The top scorer was Gianfranco Zola with 12 goals (10 in A). The Ducali had several Lazio connections in the squad: Gabriele Pin (1986-92), Fernando Couto (1998-2005), Nestor Sensini (1999-2000) and Dino Baggio (2000-03).
This season the manager was Carlo Ancelotti. The main novelties in the squad were; defenders Lilian Thuram (Monaco) and Zé Maria (Flamengo), midfielder Pietro Strada (Reggiana) and Mario Stanić (Club Brugge) and forward Enrico Chiesa (Sampdoria).
Leaving Parma were: goalkeeper Giovanni Galli (Lucchese), defenders Alberto Di Chiara (Perugia), Lorenzo Minotti (Cagliari, after 355 games), Fernando Couto (Barcelona) and Marcello Castellini (Perugia), midfielder Gabriele Pin (Piacenza) plus forwards Hristo Stoičkov (back to Barcelona) and Filippo Inzaghi (Atalanta). Gianfranco Zola would also leave in November (Chelsea).
In Serie A Parma had started well with 2 wins (Napoli 3-0 and Reggiana 3-2 at home) and a draw (Piacenza 0-0 away). The Gialloblu were joint top on 7 points with Juventus and Inter.
In Coppa Italia however they had suffered a shock exit in August by losing 1-3 at Pescara.
In the UEFA Cup too they had gone crashing out to Vitória Guimarães 2-3 on aggregate.
A big game today between two ambitious clubs but both with a few problems to sort out.
The match: Sunday, September 29. 1996, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny day and classic Sunday afternoon kick off time attracted about 40,000 to the Olimpico.
Lazio had no real absences while Parma were without defender Antonio Benarrivo and forward Hernan Crespo.
Lazio played in their classic light blue shirts while Parma played in uncharacteristic bright orange.
Lazio started hesitantly and Parma took advantage. Lazio keeper Luca Marchegiani had to parry an Enrico Chiesa shot and Alessandro Nesta had to work overtime to keep the Gialloblu at bay.
Lazio gradually stirred and scored but it was disallowed for a millimetrical offside. Gigi Casiraghi went for a scissor kick and Igor Protti anticipated Luca Bucci and scored from close range. All in vain as the linesman's flag went up.
The goal however was only delayed a few minutes. In the 25th minute Beppe Signori hit the post and the ball fell to Protti who had an easy tap-in, 1-0.
Parma's reaction was all in a missed header by Nestor Sensini and a mishit effort by Chiesa.
Lazio finished the half attacking and Protti went close with a lob following a defensive blunder.
The second half saw Lazio continue to be dangerous. Casiraghi's powerful header was saved by Bucci with the help of the crossbar.
Nesta continued to dominate in defence and in the 62nd minute Lazio doubled the score. Paul Okon set up Casiraghi who domesticated the ball, pushed it into the area and shot but the ball was walled by a defender, however it bounced up nicely for the striker who tried again and this time blasted a left foot past Bucci, 2-0.
Parma's response was an ambitious volley by Chiesa which flew high and wide.
At this point Parma threw on forward Alessandro Melli and took off midfielder Pietro Strada.
The Ducali pulled one back immediately. Gianfranco Zola chipped a free kick to the far post where Dino Baggio headed a floating lobbed header in on the opposite post, 2-1.
Lazio decided attack was the best form of defence and went for the third goal. The Biancocelesti had a long range shot by Pavel Nedved, a lobbed header by Signori and a double attempt by José Antonio Chamot but Bucci was on form and saved.
In the 75th minute Chiesa teed up Zola who had only the keeper to beat but fortunately for Lazio the flag went up.
In the 83rd minute Signori went off and was replaced by Roberto Rambaudi. The Moncalieri-born winger immediately had a chance but fired wide.
Parma tried a final forcing but apart from a few corners and a couple of scrambles in the area they were unable to seriously threaten Marchegiani.
In the 90th minute to break up the game a bit Zeman took off Okon and introduced Dario Marcolin. Final score Lazio 2 Parma 1.
A good win for Lazio against rivals for the European slots. Lazio had been the better team and should have scored more goals while Parma badly missed a goalscorer like Crespo up front.
Lazio were now joint 12th on 4 points while Parma were joint 4th on 7 points.
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta, Chamot, Favalli, Fuser, Okon (90' Marcolin), Nedved, Signori (83' Rambaudi), Casiraghi, Protti
Substitutes: Cudicini, Gottardi, Fish, Franceschini, Piovanelli
Manager: Zeman
Who played for Parma
Bucci, Zé Maria, Thuram, Sensini, Cannavaro, Crippa, D.Baggio, Bravo, Strada (64' Melli), Chiesa, Zola
Substitutes: Buffon, Apolloni, Minotti, Amaral, Mussi, Brambilla
Manager: Ancelotti
Referee: Boggi
Goals: 25' Protti, 62' Casiraghi, 66' D.Baggio
What happened next
Lazio's improvement continued and they earned four points in the next two games (home win against Cagliari and an away draw in Florence). Nevertheless they never found much consistency and despite some good wins (including Milan 3-0), on January 26 after a 1-2 home defeat to Bologna, Zeman was sacked and Dino Zoff returned. Lazio were in joint 12th position with Udinese on 23 points.
With Zoff results got better. Over the next 16 games, the Biancocelesti won 9, drew 5 (including derby with 91st minute equaliser in ten men, Milan and Juventus, both 2-2 away) and lost 2. Lazio finished 4th and qualified for the UEFA Cup. A good result considering how things had gone.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio beat Verona 2-1 but then went out to Napoli 1-2 on aggregate.
In the UEFA Cup, after eliminating Lens, Lazio crashed out to Tenerife, after leading three times in the Canary Islands and ending up losing 3-5. This was probably the beginning of the end for Zeman.
Parma fought for the Scudetto but finished 2nd (-2 from Juve) and qualified for the Champions League. The Gialloblu then won 16 (including Lazio 2-0, Juventus 1-0, Inter 1-0 at home and Milan, Roma 1-0 away), drew 6 (including Juventus 1-1 away) and lost 6. The top scorer was Enrico Chiesa with 16 goals (14 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 24th time. The next stop for Cagliari, Perugia, Verona and Reggiana was Serie B.
Let's talk about Lilian Thuram
Ruddy Lilian Thuram-Ulien was born in Pointe-à -Pitre, in Guadalupe on January 1, 1972. At nine years of age he moved to Paris.
His youth clubs were; CSCP Fontainebleau, Melun, Fontainebleau and Monaco.
In 1991 he joined the Monaco first team squad and stayed five seasons. He played 193 games and scored 11 goals. "Les Rouges et Blancs" finished 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 6th and 3rd. In 1991 they reached the final of the Cup winners Cup but lost to Werder Bremen 0-2 while in 1994 they were Champions League semifinalists (lost to eventual winners Milan 0-3). His managers at Monaco were Arsène Wenger for three seasons, Jean-Luc Ettori, Gerard Banide and Jean Tigana.
In 1996 Thuram signed for Parma. He stayed with the Gialloblu for five seasons and played 228 games with 1 goal (Cagliari). The Ducali finished 2nd, 6th, 4th, 5th and 4th and won a UEFA Cup (1999), a Coppa Italia (1999) and a Supercoppa (1999). His managers were Carlo Ancelotti (two seasons), Alberto Malesani (two seasons), Arrigo Sacchi and Renzo Ulivieri. His teammates included several Lazio connections: Diego Fuser (1992-1998), Marco Di Vaio (1993-95), Matias Almeyda (1997-2000) Sergio Conceição (1998-2000, 2003), Néstor Sensini (1999-2000), Juan Sebastián Veron (1999-2001), Hernan Crespo (2000-02), Dino Baggio (2000-03), Stefano Fiore (2001-04), Enrico Chiesa (2002-03) and Ousmane Dabo (2003-06, 2008-10).
In 2001 he signed for Juventus and again stayed five seasons. He played 204 games with 1 goal (Milan). Juventus finished 1st, 1st, 3rd, 1st (but taken away) and 1st (but demoted to 20th and relegated). He therefore won 2 league titles plus the Supercoppa twice. His managers were Marcello Lippi (three seasons) and Fabio Capello (two seasons). He played alongside Lazio connections; Di Vaio again, Pavel Nedved (1996-2001), Marcelo Salas (1998-2001), Giuliano Giannichedda (2001-05) and Igor Tudor (manager March 2024-June 2024).
In 2006 with Juventus in Serie B he left Italy and joined Barcelona for two seasons. He played 58 games and the Blaugrana finished 2nd and 3rd under manager Frank Rijkaard. He played alongside players such as Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o. In his second season he also played alongside Pedro (Lazio 2021-26). In Barcelona Thuram won a Super Cup (2006). However, he was not a regular as Rijkaard preferred to play with Puyol and Marquez.
In 2008 he was about to sign for PSG but during the medical a heart malformation was found. His brother was affected by the same thing and had collapsed and died on a basketball court two years earlier.
At 34 therefore he retired.
For France he earned 142 caps with 2 goals (both in 1998 WC semifinal against Croatia). He won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European championship. He also won the Confederations Cup in 2003.
Since retiring he has followed his two sons who also became top players. Marcus plays for Inter and Khéphren for Juventus.
From 2010 he is UNICEF ambassador. He is highly intelligent and he has written four books and produced three graphic novels. He has spoken out on political issues involving racism, immigration and equality. In 2008 he set up the Lilian Thuram Foundation with the objective of educating against racism.
Lilian Thuram was a superb defender. He is considered one of the best ever. He was a central defender but he could also play at right full-back. He had it all strength, skills, speed, tackling and heading abilities and was also a very fair and clean player.
A great opponent in Lazio's glory years.
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