Game 13, Serie A
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Stadio Bentegodi, Verona
Chievo Lazio 0-0
Lazio superior but unable to create much and can't really complain about result
The beginning of the season had been a mixed bag. Lazio had lost three out of the first four matches but then won the next four (Palermo, Sassuolo, Fiorentina, Torino), drawn one (Verona), won one (Cagliari) and then lost the last two (Empoli and Juventus). So, Lazio had won 6, drawn 1 and lost 5, giving them 19 points and 6th position.
The match
A sparse crowd turned up at the Bentegodi for this evening kick off.
Lazio played with black armbands in memory of their great former goalkeeper Lucidio Sentimenti IV, known as Cochi, who had passed away the previous day. He played 170 league games for Lazio (plus 169 for Juventus).
Lazio started on the attack keen to make up for the recent defeats. Chievo were content to just sit back and absorb the pressure before slowly coming out of their shell.
The first chances were therefore for Lazio. Filip Djordjevic was just anticipated by a defender on an Antonio Candreva cross, Stefan de Vrij had a header go just wide and then Marco Parolo shot wide from a favourable position.
Chievo resisted the onslaught and the gradually started to threaten themselves especially from set pieces. Ervin Zukanovic's shot was central and weak, Riccardo Meggiorini unmarked was unable to make contact with a Valter Birsa cross and then Alessandro Gamberini from a corner headed an easy chance wide.
Before the break Lazio had two more attempts with an effort by Parolo and a thundering long distance shot by Candreva saved by Albano Bizzarri. Halftime Chievo 0 Lazio 0.
Lazio with superior territorial and ball possession but in the end the chances were evenly balanced. Lazio were too slow and mechanical in the last thirty metres to really put the Clivensi in difficulty.
There were no changes for the second half. It continued in the same way, Lazio forward but rarely dangerous apart from a cracking volley by Stefano Mauri saved into corner by Bizzarri. Chievo had an Mariano Izco shot hit the side netting.
In the 61st minute came the first substitution, Felipe Anderson on for Candreva. The game however continued to be blocked.
Lazio's second substitution changed things more. In the 74th minute Balde Keita replaced Mauri and Lazio were livelier, finding space on the wings. In the meantime (68th minute) Chievo had tried to scare Lazio by bringing on old nemesis Sergio Pellissier who often found the net against the Romans.
In the last ten minutes Lazio threw on Miro Klose for Djordjevic and Chievo replaced Alberto Paloschi with Maxi Lopez. Lazio's final forcing produced a series of corners and a de Vrij header superbly saved by Bizzarri again but no breakthrough. Final score Chievo 0 Lazio 0.
A disappointing result for Lazio who could and should have won. The Biancocelesti however had huge difficulties activating Djordjevic up front and time and time again were muffled by Chievo's defensive game plan. Chievo themselves were more than happy to foil Lazio and pick up their point.
Who played for Chievo
Bizzarri, Frey, Cesar, Gamberini, Zukanovic, Birsa (81' Bellomo), Izco, Radovanovic, Hetemaj, Meggiorini (68' Pellissier), Paloschi (83' Maxi Lopez)
Substitutes: Seculin, Bardi, Dainelli, Cofie, Sardo, Biraghi, Mangani, Lazarevic, Botta
Manager: Maran
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Basta, de Vrij, Radu, Braafheid, A. Gonzalez, Biglia, Parolo, Candreva (61' Felipe Anderson), Djordjevic (82' Klose), Mauri (74' Keita)
Manager: Pioli
Referee: Banti
Sources
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