Memorable European Confrontations, Part 29-1977 Bastia vs. Torino

Bastia and Torino were paired in the Third Round of the 1977/78 UEFA Cup.

The Italians of Torino were one of the best Italian sides of the day. In fact they provided the backbone of the Italian National along with neighbors Juventus.

They contained a host of Italian Internationals such as Claudio Sala, Renato Zaccarelli, Eraldo Pecci and the twin strike force of Paolino Pulici and Francesco Graziani.

The Team managed by Gigi Radice had won the Scudetto just a couple seasons earlier in 1976. Torino had qualified from their opening rounds by defeating Cyprus’ APOEL Nicosia (3-0 home, 1-1 away) and Yugoslavia’s Dinamo Zagreb (3-1 home, 0-1 away).

The little known French club from the Island of Corsica had been built on a shoestring budget with many local players managed by Pierre Cahuzac.

The team was built upon the organizational talents of Claude Papi. They had recruited over the summer Dutch forward Johnny Rep from Valencia (replacing the Yugoslavian Dragan Dzajic who had departed back to Red Star Belgrade that summer).

In addition they had taken on loan two promising players from Saint Etienne: Jean- François Larios and Felix Lacuesta (with Jacques Zimako going in the opposite direction). The duo were deemed somewhat raw to make the first team and were at Bastia in search of playing time.

Bastia had already been the surprise of the Tournament by eliminating from their opening rounds: Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon (3-2 home, 2-1 away) and England’s Newcastle United (2-1 home, 3-1 away).

The first leg, on November 23^rd, was played at Bastia’s Stade Armand Cesari (Stade Furiani).

Given the fact that Stade Furiani was a small venue, there was some chatter whether the match should be held at a bigger venue, such as at Marseille, Paris or even nearby Ajaccio.

However, Bastia Manager Pierre Cahuzac insisted at their traditional venue, since they were used to playing there. In addition, many Bastia fans also protested at such an idea.

Torino were missing Renato Zaccarelli, who was unavailable due to suspension. Cesare Butti would start in his place.

Bastia were missing as much as five starters. The Yugoslavian goalkeeper Ognjen Petrovic, as well as Andre Burkhard, Louis Desvignes, Georges Franceschetti and Yves Mariot.

Marc Weller covered for Petrovic in goal, while youngsters like Larios and Lacuesta stepped up.

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Issue 11, December1977

(Bastia’s Claude Papi, November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1651, November 29, 1977

(Larios and Pecci, November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1651, November 29, 1977

(Bastia’s Johnny Rep and Claude Papi, November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1651, November 29, 1977

(Cazes and Francesco Graziani, November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

The unavailabilities forced Cahuzac to call up reserve team players (their Third Division side). Though regulations authorized five substitute players on the bench, Bastia could manage to find only four: Dominique Murati, Merry Krimau, Jose Graziani (namesake of the Torino star) and Pierre Mattei.

Cahuzac set the bar higher in this round since Torino were one of the best Italian sides.

It was the Italians who took the lead in the 23^rd minute. Claudio Sala crossed from the right side (on the ground level) for Pulici.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1651, November 29, 1977

(November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Issue 11, December1977

(Pecci between Larios, Lacuesta and papi, November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Issue 11, December1977

(November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(Larios, November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Pulici with one touch raised the ball up and in the air volleyed past Weller.

Undeterred Bastia kept attacking by pressing hard and fast with Papi at the center of most of their moves.

In the 37^th minute, Torino lost ball in midfield. Papi took the ball and gave it to Larios who sent Papi through to score.

Papi was also instrumental in Bastia’s winning goal. In the 62^nd minute, he crossed from the right side for Felix who immediately passed to Rep who scored the winner.

It was a slim lead and many still favored Torino for the Second Leg.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(November 23, 1977, UEFA Cup, Bastia 2-Torino 1)

The Italian newspaper ‘Corriere della Sera’ declared that Bastia worthy of a place in the Serie A and Papi took most of the plaudits.

French National Team Manager Michel Hidalgo had been in the stands and was also impressed by Papi.

He now had an extra option in the number ten position.

The second leg, on December 7^th,  was played at Turin’s Stadio Communale.

Bastia were to be without François Felix, who had suffered a knee injury after an automobile accident.

Moroccan striker Merry Krimau was called up as his replacement.

For Torino Zaccarelli was back in the squad (Cesare Butti making way).

For most observers Torino were stronger on paper and should have won. Johnny Rep had lowered expectations by saying Bastia had only 10% chance of advancing (afterwards he would say that he never would have believed the outcome).

Torino attacked first and had Bastia regrouped in defense for most of the early going.

Despite this, it was Bastia who scored first. In the 19^th minute, Lacuesta released Rep on the right side. Rep would give it back to Lacuesta (back to his goal), who would lay it on for Larios to smash a hard shot from outside the box into the net.

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1653, December 13, 1977

(Charles Orlanducci and Paolino Pulici, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1653, December 13, 1977

(Merry Krimau, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1653, December 13, 1977

(December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

The joy was short-lived as just three minutes later Torino equalized. Patrizio Sala’s cross from left side was diverted by Orlanducci into the path of Graziani, who immediately turned and struck from the edge of the box.

Minutes later in the 28^th minute, Zaccarelli had to be substituted off by Fabrizio Gorin due to injury.

Two minutes into the second half and Torino took the lead to tie the aggregate score.

Claudio Sala crossed from the right side, Pulici headed it across to Graziani who trapped the ball and struck past Weller.

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Issue 17, May 1978

(Cazes, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Bastia came back just three minutes later. In the 50^th minute, Rep gave the ball to Cazes on the left wing, who crossed the ball as Castellini was about to reach him and Krimau scored in the empty net.

In the action, Castellini had been struck in the knee by Luigi Danova and was forced to be substituted (Giuliano Terraneo came on).

Minutes later (54^th), Rep was booked after a retaliation foul on Mozzini. He had suffered repeated fouls by Caporale and Mozzini. He had been booked in a previous encounter and would therefore miss the next match.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: L'Annee du Football, 1978

(Charles Orlanducci and Paolino Pulici, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(Larios, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

In the 65^th minute, Bastia completed the upset by scoring the winner. After breaking up a Torino attack, Papi released Krimau who only had the goalkeeper to beat.

It had been a rare home defeat for Torino. Given their standing, Cahuzac felt this victory was a significant achievement.

Afterwards, the French questioned the refereeing of Welshman Clive Thomas, whom they felt had been biased towards the home team, especially given that Torino were uncharacteristically very physical.

Torino President Orfeo Pianelli felt his Team had placed too many men upfront, which was a mistake against a team like Bastia.

Larios also said that he had not felt such joy. He felt the victory was particularly special for himself and Lacuesta, who had bore the brunt of criticism at Saint Etienne.

Photo From: Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

(Bastia goalkeeper Marc Weller celebrating, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: L'Annee du Football, 1978

(Bastia players celebrating, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1653, December 13, 1977

(Bastia players saluting the crowd, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Photo From: France Football, Issue 1653, December 13, 1977

(Bastia players celebrating, December 7, 1977, UEFA Cup, Torino 2-Bastia 3)

Bastia won its sixth straight match in the competition vs. Torino.

Torino would go on and finish third in the Italian League.

Bastia built up on this success and in the quarterfinals (Spring 1978) eliminated East Germany’s Carl Zeiss Jena. In the Semifinals, they eliminated Swizterland’s Grasshoppers Zurich to reach the Final.

However, their adventure ended at the Final vs. Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven who defeated them at home (3-0) following a scoreless tie at Furiani.

Bastia’s run in the UEFA Cup is part of French Football folklore and is referred as ‘L’Epopee de Bastia’.

Claude Papi’s performances helped him earn a place in France’s 1978 World Cup squad in Argentina at the end of that season.

Papi would tragically pass away on January 28, 1983 aged just 33 due to an aneurysm rupture.

November 23, 1977

S.E.C. (Sporting Etoile Club) de Bastia (France) 2- Torino  Calcio 1906 (Italy) 1

UEFA Cup- Third Round, First Leg

Venue: Bastia-Stade Armand Cesari (Stade de Furiani)

Attendance: 8,343

Referee: Heinz Aldinger (West Germany)

Goalscorers: (Bastia): Claude Papi 37^th, Johnny Rep 62^nd

  (Torino): Paolino Pulici 24^th

                    

Lineups:

Bastia:

1-Marc Weller, 5-Andre Guesdon, 3-Jean-Louis Cazes, 4-Charles Orlanducci, 2-Paul Marchioni, 10-Claude Papi, 6-Jean- François Larios, 8-Felix Lacuesta, 7-Johnny Rep (Holland), 11-Jean-Marie De Zerbi, 9-François Felix

Coach: Pierre Cahuzac

Other Substitutes:

Dominique Murati (goalkeeper), Merry Krimau (Morocco), Jose Graziani, Pierre Mattei

Team Captain: Charles Orlanducci

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: 

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks

Torino:

1-Luciano Castellini, 2-Luigi Danova, 6-Vittorio Caporale, 3-Roberto Salvadori, 5-Roberto Mozzini, 4-Patrizio Sala, 8-Eraldo Pecci, 7-Claudio Sala, 10-Cesare Butti, 9-Francesco Graziani, 11-Paolino Pulici

Coach: Gigi Radice

Team Captain: Claudio Sala

Official Kit Supplier/Designer:

Shirt Sponsor:

Uniform Colors: White Shirts, Red (Granata) Shorts, Red (Granata)  Socks

December 7, 1977

Torino  Calcio 1906 (Italy) 2-S.E.C. (Sporting Etoile Club) de Bastia (France) 3

UEFA Cup- Third Round, Second Leg

Venue: Turin– Stadio Communale

Attendance: 50,000

Referee: Clive Thomas (Wales)

Goalscorers: (Torino): Francesco  Graziani 22^nd, 47^th

  (Bastia): Jean- François Larios 19^th, Merry Krimau 50^th, 65^th

                    

Lineups:

Torino:

1-Luciano Castellini (16- Giuliano Terraneo 51^st), 2-Luigi Danova, 6-Vittorio Caporale, 3-Roberto Salvadori, 5-Roberto Mozzini, 4-Patrizio Sala, 8-Eraldo Pecci, 7-Claudio Sala, 10-Renato Zaccarelli (15-Fabrzio Gorin 28^th), 9-Francesco Graziani, 11-Paolino Pulici

Coach: Gigi Radice

Team Captain: Claudio Sala

Official Kit Supplier/Designer:

Shirt Sponsor:

Uniform Colors: Red (Granata)  Shirts, Red (Granata) Shorts, Red (Granata)  Socks

Bastia:

1-Marc Weller, 5-Andre Gueson, 3-Jean-Louis Cazes, 4-Charles Orlanducci, 2-Paul Marchioni, 10-Claude Papi, 6-Jean- François Larios, 8-Felix Lacuesta, 7-Johnny Rep (Holland), 11-Jean-Marie De Zerbi, 9-Merry Krimau (Morocco)

Coach: Pierre Cahuzac

Booked: Merry Krimau, Johnny Rep 55

Note: Most sources only show Rep being booked

Team Captain: Charles Orlanducci

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: Adidas

Shirt Sponsor: 

Uniform Colors: Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

References:

Onze, Issue 24, December 1977

Mondial, old series, Issue 11, December1977

Mondial, old series, Issue 17, May 1978

France Football, Issue 1651, November 29, 1977

France Football, Issue 1653, December 13, 1977

L'Annee du Football, 1978

Le Livre d'Or du football, 1978, Author Charles Bietry