March 22, 2000, was one in all Lazio’s final nice European nights. Coached by Sven Goran Eriksson, the Biancocelesti raided Stamford Bridge at beat Chelsea 1-2 within the closing sport of the Champions League’s second group stage. In these days, Lazio had been a drive to be reckoned with in Serie A – a lot that the 1999/2000 season would finish with the Roman Aquile lifting the Scudetto trophy for the second time of their historical past.
Even in Europe, Lazio had been to not mess up with. Within the earlier season, that includes Christian Vieri upfront, they’d had the glory of successful the ultimate of version of the Cup Winners Cup, simply earlier than this iconic match could be absorbed by an enlarged UEFA Cup.
This time, they featured within the new Champions League, whose format was additionally being expanded to incorporate 32 groups. Within the second group stage, the Biancocelesti‘s path crossed that of Chelsea. The Blues had been nonetheless of their pre-Roman Abramovich days and that was the primary time they had been that includes within the prime European competitors.
Chelsea had an Italian soul, Gianluca Vialli being their coach and Gianfranco Zola spearheading their assault. Within the midfield, their future gaffer Roberto Di Matteo nonetheless held his personal. Previous veterans like Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps of France added expertise to an formidable membership that was keen to seek out its place among the many European soccer aristocracy.
Nonetheless, a fast have a look at Lazio’s lineup exhibits how billing the Biancocelesti as favourite to win was completely regular in these days. Lazio featured, amongst others, present Atleti’s coach El Cholo Simeone, Argentine midfield dynamos Matìas Almeyda and Juan Sebastian Veron, future Juventus legend Pavel Nedved, and present Inter boss Simone Inzaghi.
On the bench, one may spot the faces of Sergio Conceicao, who’s presently making an attempt to get one thing out of Milan’s disastrous season, and Roberto Mancini – who’s rumored to be a attainable candidate for the Juventus job after his expertise on the helm of Saudi Arabia ended abruptly.
On that Champions League night time, Uruguay worldwide Gustavo Poyet opened the scoring for the house facet simply earlier than half time. Lazio, nevertheless, managed to come back from behind and took house all three factors on supply as Simone Inzaghi drew degree earlier than Sinisa Mihajlovic would set the rating at 2-1 with, you guessed it, a free kick. The Biancocelesti then managed to climate the ultimate storm after their short-tempered defender Fernando Couto (shock, shock) was despatched off.
Lazio’s run would finish within the Quarter Finals as they succumbed 3-5 on mixture to Hector Cuper’s rising star Valencia. As of right this moment, that is nonetheless the very best consequence ever achieved by the Biancocelesti within the prime European competitors.