On 28 May 1978, Massimo Giacomini’s Udinese secured promotion back to Serie B after a triumphant campaign, ending a 14-year spell in the third tier. It was sealed thanks to a 2-0 victory over Pro Vercelli, in which Carlo De Bernardi and Nerio Ulivieri, in front of nearly 20,000 fans at the brand-new Stadio Friuli.
Promotion was mathematically secured with two games to spare, though the outcome had not been in doubt for weeks. By the end, the lead over JuniorCasale, who had kept pace with Udinese until January, stood at eight points, with a total of 58 points, a record for the division. Just two defeats were recorded all season: on 30 April against the eventual runners-up from Piedmont and Sant'Angelo after promotion had already been secured.
Udinese’s march didn’t stop that afternoon against Pro Vercelli. On 17 June, Bonora and his team-mates lifted the Serie C Coppa Italia, and on 28 June they beat Bath City in the final of the Anglo-Italian Cup. That team etched its place in the club’s history books the following season by earning promotion to Serie A, completing a remarkable double leap and returning to the top flight after a 17-year absence.
Udinese 2-0 Pro Vercelli
Scorers: De Bernardi 15, Ulivieri 82.