07 August 2015
As the season’s curtain raiser is staged abroad for the seventh time, it is only fitting that the top scorers in Serie A from the previous campaign will be showcased at the Shanghai Stadium: no other side matched Juventus (72) and Lazio’s (71) goal scoring exploits last term.
To honour the meeting between the 2014/15 season’s most prolific teams in front of goal, Juventus.com takes a look back at five high-scoring classics through the years between the Bianconeri and the Biancocelesti.
19.05.1985 Lazio 3-3 Juventus
In the penultimate game of the 1984/85 league season, Giovanni Trapattoni’s men had little to play for in the league as they had their eyes on Coppa Italia and European Cup finals on the horizon.
With both teams throwing caution to the wind, this meeting at the Olympic Stadium in Rome produced a six-goal thriller.
After falling behind early on, Juve struck back through Michel Platini’s superb free-kick and Sergio Brio’s 12-yard drive. The Bianconeri extended their lead on the hour with Brio involved again, floating a perfect cross to the back post for Gaetano Scirea to head home.
But with 20 minutes to play, Lazio clawed their way back to share the spoils as Bruno Giordano slotted from the penalty spot and Gabriele Podavini drilled home through a packed penalty area.
11.06.1989 Juventus 4-2 Lazio
After a 0-0 stalemate in Rome in January, Dino Zoff's men hosted Lazio at the Stadio Comunale in another end of season clash. Once again, the Biancocelesti made the better start as Angelo Gregucci rose highest to head home from Ruben Sosa's flighted corner.
Renato Buso restored parity on 21 minutes before Sosa helped himself to a defensive error to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
But the Bianconeri rallied after half-time, Massimo Piscedda's own goal getting the ball rolling before D'Agostini's superb volley and Buso's second of the game 10 minutes from time tied up the three points for the Old Lady.
11.12.1994 Lazio 3-4 Juventus
In a season that would see Marcello Lippi's side win a domestic double, Juventus headed to Rome in fantastic form looking for their sixth win on the bounce.
Despite falling behind early on, the Bianconeri came storming back thanks to a brilliant brace from Alessandro Del Piero. His first came from perseverance, the second from sheer class dribbling past three defenders before curling into the corner.
Del Piero's goals sandwiched Giancarlo Marocchi's effort to give Juve a 3-1 lead with 13 minutes remaining. The mercurial number 10 was involved again in the Old Lady's fourth as his slide rule pass released Corrado Grabbi to smash home.
Once again though late goals from Pierluigi Casiraghi (87')and Diego Fuser (90+3') made for a nervy finish but the Bianconeri hung on for a massive three points.
10.03.1996 Juve 4-2 Lazio
After a nightmare first quarter at the Stadio Delle Alpi, Lippi's men found themselves 2-0 down. But mistakes from Luca Marchegiani just before half-time and Jose Chamot with 20 minutes to go allowed Juve back into the game and set up a grandstand finish.
After Casiraghi's red card, the Bianconeri powered ahead and took the game beyond Lazio. Antonio Conte's blistering drive from 20 yards sent the bench wild before Michele Padovano's delicate left-footed finish wrapped up the win.
27.04.2008 Juventus 5-2 Lazio
These two sides shared 12 goals in the 2007/08 season. In December, Juve edged a tight game by the odd goal in five and they were in similar scoring form in April when the teams met again at the Stadio Delle Alpi.
After a blistering start, Claudio Ranieri's men were 4-0 up after 35 minutes, as a rare goal from Giorgio Chiellini was followed by strikes from Mauro Camoranesi, another beauty from Del Piero and a great take and finish by David Trezeguet.
After the restart, Lazio threatened a remarkable comeback as Rolando Bianchi flicked in on 55 minutes and Sebastiano Siviglia headed home emphatically with half an hour left on the clock. The spoils however would stay in Turin as Chiellini bundled home his second of the game in stoppage time.
With a sell out crowd expected in Shanghai, both sides would delight their Chinese fans with a similar show of goals tomorrow night.
You can see previous Juventus vs. Lazio encounters, Italian Super Cup triumphs and a host of other classic games on the **Juventus official Youtube channel.**
