1958

7 – 17 February 1958

Participating teams (16): AC Milan, Alessandria, Atalanta, Fiorentina, Genoa, Lanerossi Vicenza, Sampdoria, Udinese, Zenit Modena (Italy), Sparta Prague (Czechoslovakia), Racing Paris (France), Progresul București (Romania), Deportivo Barcelona (Spain), Partizan Belgrade, Hajduk Split (Yugoslavia).

Overview

Just one year after the eight-team edition of 1957, the number of participating clubs in the Coppa Carnevale doubled, with a significant presence of sides from Warsaw Pact countries. Indeed, several games were played outside Viareggio for the first time, with Camaiore, Carrara, Lucca, Montecatini and Pisa hosting some encounters. The tournament kicked off on 7 February, a few days after the shocking Munich Disaster.

The instant elimination of trophy holders AC Milan, who fielded future stars Sandro Salvadore, Giovanni Trapattoni and Mario Trebbi, by Genoa was certainly the greatest upset. Two matches were decided through coin toss: Modena, sponsored by local firm Zenit that had saved the club from bankruptcy providing ₤100m, sent Sparta Prague out of competition and so did Lanerossi Vicenza against Atalanta. The latter won the second leg match courtesy of striker Renzo Cappellaro, who at the end of the tournament reached a general 14-goal personal score in five editions. It still resists as an all-time record for the Coppa, with Juventus forward Ciro Immobile eventually matching it between 2009 and 2010.

The quarter-finals provided entertaining matches. Sampdoria overcame Genoa in the Derby della Lanterna, Udinese and Lanerossi Vicenza progressed thanks to their tight wins against Alessandria and Zenit Modena. On their part, Fiorentina made another overflowing performance and humiliated Roma 4-0. Central midfielder Ricciotti Greatti, who would become national champion with Cagliari a dozen years later, scoring a brace. La Viola also featured Luigi Simoni, future manager of preeminent Italian clubs.

Having scored 16 goals in four matches, Fiorentina were the main favourites to win the final, contested against Sampdoria. Francesco Liverani was awarded the Fischietto d’oro (“Golden whistle”) for being the referee of the match. Fiorentina sticked with their offensive football, but it was the opponent side to lift the trophy for the second time courtesy of Mora and Massa, who netted in the second half. Furthermore, Furthermore, Sampdoria wing half Giuseppe Recagno was honoured because of his record sixth participation in the tournament.

Fixtures

Round of 16 – 1st leg
Sampdoria 2-3 Deportivo Barcelona
Giordano, Mora; Vall, Suárez, Sala
Genoa 3-0 AC Milan
Nezzi 2, Venturi
Roma 1-0 Hajduk Split
Compagno
Fiorentina 5-1 Progresul
Simoni 2, Greatti, Martinelli, Moroso; Balint
Alessandria 0-0 Partizan Belgrade
Udinese 3-2 Racing Paris
Tirelli 2, Trevisan; Bejel, Fievet
Lanerossi Vicenza 0-1 Atalanta
Volpato
Zenit Modena 1-0 Sparta Prague
Fogliani

Round of 16 – 2nd leg
Deportivo Barcelona 0-3 Sampdoria
Massa 2, Giordano
AC Milan 1-0 Genoa
Magistrelli
Hajduk Split 0-1 Roma
Compagno
Progresul 2-3 Fiorentina
Petsu, Balint; Tognoni, Morosi, Martinelli
Partizan Belgrade 1-2 Alessandria
Mitić; Crippa, Javinović (og)
Racing Paris 1-3 Udinese
Bucaib; Giacomini, Medeot, Brochetta
Atalanta 0-1 Lanerossi Vicenza [Atalanta on coin toss]
Cappellaro
Sparta Prague 2-1 Zenit Modena [Modena on coin toss]
Novak, Mvavac; Castorri

Quarter-finals
Sampdoria 2-1 Genoa
Massa, Recagno; Belchi
Fiorentina 4-0 Roma
Greatti 2, Morosi, Casini
Udinese 1-0 Alessandria
Birtig
Lanerossi Vicenza 1-0 Zenit Modena
De Mani

Semi-finals
Sampdoria 2-1 Udinese
Mainardi, Grabesu; Russi
Fiorentina 4-1 Lanerossi Vicenza
Greatti 2, Morini, Morosi; Cappellaro

Third Place Match
Udinese 2-0 Lanerossi Vicenza
Raise, Trevisan

Final

Viareggio, 17 February 1958

Sampdoria 2
Fiorentina 0

Sampdoria: Sardelli, Tommasin, D’Assereto, Delfino, Nadalin, De Grassi, Bolzoni, Mora, Massa, Recagno, Giordano.
Fiorentina: Paolicchi, Martinelli, Fiaschi, Golfarini, Gonfiantini, Tognoni, Simoni, Morini, Greatti, Casini, Morosi.
Referee: Liverani (Torino).
Goals: 63 Mora, 73 Massa.

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