1978–79 US Catanzaro season

US Catanzaro

1978–79 season
President	Nicola Ceravolo
Manager	Carlo Mazzone
Stadium	Stadio Comunale
Serie A	9th
Coppa Italia	Semi-finalist
Top goalscorer	League: Massimo Palanca (10) All: Massimo Palanca (18)
Highest home attendance	25,491 vs Milan (29 April 1979)[1]
Lowest home attendance	11,442 vs Bologna (1 April 1979)[1]
Average home league attendance	17,177[1]
Biggest win	4–0 vs SPAL (3 September 1978, Coppa Italia)
Biggest defeat	0–4 vs Milan (7 January 1979, Serie A)

The 1978–79 season was Unione Sportiva Catanzaro's 47th season in existence and the club's first season returning to the Serie A after spending the previous season in Serie B. It was the club's third season overall in the Serie A. In addition to the domestic league, Catanzaro also participated in this season's edition of the Coppa Italia. Catanzaro finished 9th in the domestic league were semi-finalists in the Coppa Italia. Massimo Palanca was the Coppa Italia capocannonieri (top goalscorer) with 8 goals.

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ITA Ruggero Casari — GK  ITA Massimo Mattolini — DF  ITA Giuliano Groppi — DF  ITA Leonardo Menichini — DF  ITA Claudio Ranieri — DF  ITA Giuseppe Sabadini — DF  ITA Maurizio Turone — DF  ITA Manlio Zanini — MF  ITA Adriano Banelli — MF  ITA Maurizio Gaiardi

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  ITA Giovanni Improta — MF  ITA Enrico Nicolini — MF  ITA Angelo Orazi — MF  ITA Maurizio Raise — FW  ITA Piero Braglia — FW  ITA Pietro Michesi — FW  ITA Pieraldo Nemo — FW  ITA Massimo Palanca — FW  ITA Renzo Rossi

Competitions

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
					Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Serie A	1 October 1978	13 May 1979		9th	30	6	16	8	23	30	−7	020.00
Coppa Italia	27 August 1978	31 May 1979	Group	Semifinalist	8	4	3	1	12	11	+1	050.00
Total					38	10	19	9	35	41	−6	026.32

Source: Competitions

Serie A

Main article: 1978–79 Serie A

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
7	Fiorentina	30	10	12	8	26	26	0	32
8	Lazio	30	9	11	10	35	40	−5	29
9	Catanzaro	30	6	16	8	23	30	−7	28
10	Ascoli	30	7	12	11	26	31	−5	26
11	Avellino	30	6	14	10	19	26	−7	26

Source: Panini

Results summary

Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
30	6	16	8	23	30	−7	28	4	10	1	13	9	+4	2	6	7	10	21	−11

Last updated: 21 February 2023.
Source: webalice.it

Note: Wins were only worth 2 points this season

Results by round

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	H	A	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	A	A	H	H	A	H
Result	D	L	D	D	W	D	D	D	D	W	D	L	L	D	L	W	W	L	D	W	D	D	D	D	L	D	D	L	L	W
Position	12	13	12	12	10	10	10	9	9	8	8	9	9	10	11	9	8	9	9	7	8	7	8	9	9	9	9	9	9	9

Source: Competitive matches
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; P = Postponed;   = Leader, 1979–80 European Cup;   = 1979–80 UEFA Cup;   = 1979-80 Serie B; R = 1979-80 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Matches

Catanzaro v Atalanta

1 October 1978 1	Catanzaro	0–0	Atalanta	Catanzaro
15:00 CET				Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Giancarlo Lapi

L.R. Vicenza v Catanzaro

8 October 1978 2	L.R. Vicenza	2–0	Catanzaro	Vicenza
15:00 CET	Prestanti 53' Guidetti 56' (pen.)			Stadium: Stadio Romeo Menti Referee: Ferdinando Reggiani

Catanzaro v Juventus

15 October 1978 3	Catanzaro	0–0	Juventus	Catanzaro
15:00 CET				Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Gianfranco Menegali

Inter Milan v Catanzaro

22 October 1978 4	Inter Milan	0–0	Catanzaro	Milan
14:30 CET				Stadium: San Siro Referee: Roberto Terpin

Catanzaro v Roma

29 October 1978 5	Catanzaro	1–0	Roma	Catanzaro
14:30 CET	Rocca 46' (o.g.)			Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Rosario Lo Bello

Avellino v Catanzaro

5 November 1978 6	Avellino	0–0	Catanzaro	Avellino
14:30 CET				Stadium: Stadio Partenio Referee: Enzo Barbaresco

Catanzaro v Fiorentina

12 November 1978 7	Catanzaro	0–0	Fiorentina	Catanzaro
14:30 CET				Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Claudio Pieri

Ascoli v Catanzaro

19 November 1978 8	Ascoli	1–1	Catanzaro	Ascoli Piceno
14:30 CET	Moro 85'		30' Orazi	Stadium: Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca Referee: Paolo Bergamo

Bologna v Catanzaro

26 November 1978 9	Bologna	1–1	Catanzaro	Bologna
14:30 CET	Paris 23' (pen.)		61' Zanini	Stadium: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara Referee: Maurizio Mattei

Catanzaro v Lazio

3 December 1978 10	Catanzaro	3–1	Lazio	Catanzaro
14:30 CET	Palanca 16', 87' Rossi 79'		83' Wilson	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Gino Menicucci

Catanzaro v Hellas Verona

10 December 1978 11	Catanzaro	1–1	Hellas Verona	Catanzaro
14:30 CET	Palanca 9'		5' Musiello	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Franco Tonolini

Perugia v Catanzaro

17 December 1978 12	Perugia	1–0	Catanzaro	Perugia
14:30 CET	Speggiorin 61'			Stadium: Stadio Renato Curi Referee: Domenico Lops

Milan v Catanzaro

7 January 1979 13	Milan	4–0	Catanzaro	Milan
14:30 CET	Chiodi 16' Bigon 21' Novellino 76' Antonelli 81'			Stadium: San Siro Referee: Rosario Lo Bello

Catanzaro v Napoli

14 January 1979 14	Catanzaro	0–0	Napoli	Catanzaro
14:30 CET				Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Carlo Longhi

Torino v Catanzaro

21 January 1979 15	Torino	3–0	Catanzaro	Turin
14:30 CET	Pulici 31', 57', 81' (pen.)			Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Enzo Barbaresco

Atalanta v Catanzaro

28 January 1979 16	Atalanta	0–2	Catanzaro	Bergamo
14:30 CET			79' Improta 90' Rossi	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Egidio Ballerini

Catanzaro v L.R. Vicenza

4 February 1979 17	Catanzaro	2–0	L.R. Vicenza	Catanzaro
15:00 CET	Palanca 30', 89'			Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Giancarlo Menegali

Juventus v Catanzaro

11 February 1979 18	Juventus	3–1	Catanzaro	Turin
15:00 CET	Bettega 8' Tardelli 52' Cabrini 61'		79' Zanini	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Catanzaro v Inter Milan

18 February 1979 19	Catanzaro	1–1	Inter Milan	Catanzaro
15:00 CET	Groppi 71'		56' Muraro	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Gino Menicucci

Roma v Catanzaro

4 March 1979 20	Roma	1–3	Catanzaro	Rome
15:00 CET	Di Bartolomei 24' (pen.)		5', 43', 68' Palanca	Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Referee: Ferdinando Reggiani

Catanzaro v Avellino

11 March 1979 21	Catanzaro	0–0	Avellino	Catanzaro
15:00 CET				Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Paolo Casarin

Fiorentina v Catanzaro

18 March 1979 22	Fiorentina	1–1	Catanzaro	Firenze
15:00 CET	Pagliari 55'		32' Palanca	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Pietro D'Elia

Catanzaro v Ascoli

25 March 1979 23	Catanzaro	1–1	Ascoli	Catanzaro
15:00 CET	Ranieri 46'		43' Trevisanello	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Giancarlo Lapi

Catanzaro v Bologna

1 April 1979 24	Catanzaro	0–0	Bologna	Catanzaro
15:30 CET				Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Lazio v Catanzaro

8 April 1979 25	Lazio	3–1	Catanzaro	Rome
15:30 CET	D'Amico 40' Giordano 49' Garlaschelli 85'		47' Palanca	Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Referee: Ruggero Mascia

Hellas Verona v Catanzaro

14 April 1979 26	Hellas Verona	0–0	Catanzaro	Verona
15:30 CET				Stadium: Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi Referee: Tullio Lanese

Catanzaro v Perugia

22 April 1979 27	Catanzaro	1–1	Perugia	Catanzaro
15:30 CET	Rossi 60'		2' Butti	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Gianfranco Menegali

Catanzaro v Milan

29 April 1979 28	Catanzaro	1–3	Milan	Catanzaro
15:30 CET	Ranieri 52'		48' Maldera 58' Novellino 89' Antonelli	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Carlo Longhi

Napoli v Catanzaro

6 May 1979 29	Napoli	1–0	Catanzaro	Naples
16:00 CET	Nicolini 65' (o.g.)			Stadium: Stadio San Paolo Referee: Ferdinando Reggiani

Catanzaro v Torino

13 May 1979 30	Catanzaro	2–1	Torino	Catanzaro
16:00 CET	Mozzini 62' (o.g.) Orazi 73'		25' (o.g.) Menichini	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Piero Patrussi

Coppa Italia

Main article: 1978-79 Coppa Italia

Group stage: Group 4

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Catanzaro	4	3	1	0	11	4	+7	7
2	Milan	4	2	1	1	9	7	+2	5
3	SPAL	4	2	0	2	6	6	0	4
4	Lecce	4	1	0	3	4	7	−3	2
5	Foggia	4	1	0	3	2	8	−6	2

Source: https://www.historical-lineups.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1978-79.pdf

Group matches

Catanzaro v Lecce

27 August 1978 1	Catanzaro	3–1	Lecce	Catanzaro
	Ranieri 16' Palanca 57', 73'		Cannito 45'	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Tullio Lanese

Foggia v Catanzaro

30 August 1978 2	Foggia	1–2	Catanzaro	Foggia
	Pirazzini 38'		Palanca 43', 47'	Referee: Carlo Longhi

Catanzaro v S.P.A.L.

3 September 1978 3	Catanzaro	4–0	S.P.A.L.	Catanzaro
	Palanca 10' Improta 11' Orazi 16' Rossi 68'			Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Fernando Tani

Milan v Catanzaro

17 September 1978 5	Milan	2–2	Catanzaro	Milan
	Chiodi 19' (pen.) Bet 65'		Ranieri 59' Palanca 89' (pen.)	Stadium: San Siro Referee: Luigi Angolin

Quarterfinals

Cagliari v Catanzaro

25 April 1979 1	Cagliari	2–2	Catanzaro	Cagliari
	L. Piras 21' Bellini 51'		Palanca 24' Improta 52'	Referee: Paolo Milan

Catanzaro v Cagliari

16 May 1979 2	Catanzaro	1–0 (3–2 agg.)	Cagliari	Catanzaro
	Palanca 49'			Stadium: Stadio Comunale Referee: Giancarlo Redini

Semifinals

Catanzaro v Juventus

20 May 1979 1	Catanzaro	1–1	Juventus	Catanzaro
16:30 CET	Gentile 62' (o.g.)	Report	Bettega 16'	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 15,088 Referee: Luigi Agnolin

Juventus v Catanzaro

31 May 1979 2	Juventus	4–2 (5–3 agg.)	Catanzaro	Turin
20:30 CEST	Cabrini 55' (pen.) Tardelli 69' Causio 80' Virdis 87'	Report	Sabadini 71' Groppi 84'	Stadium: Stadio Comunale Attendance: 28,057 Referee: Gino Menicucci

Squad statistics

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Serie A		Coppa Italia
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	GK	ITA	Ruggero Casari	0	0	0	0	0	0
	GK	ITA	Massimo Mattolini	38	-41	30	-30	8	-11
	DF	ITA	Giuliano Groppi	32	2	24	1	8	1
	DF	ITA	Leonardo Menichini	29	0	25	0	4	0
	DF	ITA	Claudio Ranieri	35	4	27	2	8	2
	DF	ITA	Giuseppe Sabadini	33	1	27	0	6	1
	DF	ITA	Maurizio Turone	24	0	17	0	7	0
	DF	ITA	Manlio Zanini	31	2	26	2	5	0
	MF	ITA	Adriano Banelli	19	0	13	0	6	0
	MF	ITA	Maurizio Gaiardi	6	0	3	0	3	0
	MF	ITA	Giovanni Improta	34	3	27	1	7	2
	MF	ITA	Enrico Nicolini	34	0	26	0	8	0
	MF	ITA	Angelo Orazi	36	3	28	2	8	1
	MF	ITA	Maurizio Raise	4	0	2	0	2	0
	FW	ITA	Piero Braglia	22	0	21	0	1	0
	FW	ITA	Pietro Michesi	27	0	25	0	2	0
	FW	ITA	Pieraldo Nemo	3	0	1	0	2	0
	FW	ITA	Massimo Palanca	37	18	30	10	7	8
	FW	ITA	Renzo Rossi	30	4	23	3	7	1

• Source: http://calcio-seriea.net/presenze/1978/804/ and https://www.historical-lineups.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/1978-79.pdf

References

• calcio-seria.net [2]
• historical-lineups.com [3]
• webalice.it [4]

1. "Statistiche Spettatori Serie A 1978-1979". www.stadiapostcards.com. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
2. "US Catanzaro player appearances". www.calcio-seriea.net. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
3. "1978–79 Coppa Italia" (PDF). historical-lineups.com. Retrieved 9 September 2022.
4. "U.S. Catanzaro season summaries". webalice.it. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2022.