Big win but with difficulties
A big score line hides several problematic moments
Also on this day:
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The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished an excellent 3rd under Stefano Pioli. They had qualified for a Champions League preliminary round.
This season Pioli was confirmed. The summer market had brought some new players: defenders Wesley Hoedt and Patric (both free agents) midfielders Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Genk) and Ravel Morrison (free agent) plus forwards Ricardo Kishna (Ajax) and Alessandro Matri (Milan-on loan).
Many players were leaving: keeper Thomas Strakosha (Salernitana-on loan), defenders Luís Pedro Cavanda (Trabzonspor), Michaël Ciani, Diego Novaretti and Lorik Cana (all end of contract), midfielders Ederson and Cristian Ledesma (both end of contract) and Álvaro González (Atlas-Mexico).
Not a great improvement to the squad, in fact Lazio were already out of the Champions League (or more like never got in - losing to Bayer Leverkusen 1-3 on aggregate). The Biancocelesti had lost the Italian Supercoppa final to Juventus, 0-2 in August, and were having an up and down start to Serie A.
Lazio had won the first game 2-1 at home to Bologna but then been thrashed by Chievo 0-4 and had never found much consistency. Since then, the Biancocelesti had won 8 (including Verona, Inter both 2-1 and Fiorentina 3-1, all away), drawn 6 and lost 8 (including Napoli 0-5 away and derby). Lazio were currently 9th on 33 points.
In the Europa League Lazio had got through the group stage, after 4 wins (Saint- Étienne 3-2 and Dnipro 3-1 at home, Rosenborg home and away 3-1 and 2-0) and 2 draws (Dnipro and Saint-Étienne both 1-1 away). Next up were Galatasaray in the round of 32 on February 18 in Istanbul and 25 in Rome.
In Coppa Italia Lazio had beaten Udinese 2-1 in the last 16 but then been eliminated by Juventus 0-1 at home in the quarter finals (by a goal by former player Stephan Lichtsteiner).
Verona had finished 13th the previous season under Andrea Mandorlini. Hellas had drawn 1-1 with Lazio at home but lost 0-2 in Rome. Top scorer was Luca Toni with 23 goals (22 in A).
This season Verona's main new players were: defenders Filip Helander (Malmö FF), Samuel Souprayen (Dijon), midfielders Francelino Matuzalém (Bologna but he left in January), Romulo (Juventus - back from loan). Federico Viviani (Roma, via Latina), Pawel Wszolek (Sampdoria) plus forwards Giampaolo Pazzini (Milan) and Luca Siligardi (Livorno).
In the January window the Scaligeri had added defenders Urby Emanuelson (Roma - on loan via Atalanta), Gilberto (Fiorentina - on loan), midfielder Luca Marrone (Juventus - on loan via Carpi) and forward Ante Rebić (Fiorentina - on loan).
Leaving were: keeper Francesco Benussi (Carpi), defenders Andrea Agostini (retiring), Davide Brivio (Atalanta - end of loan), Rafael Marquez (Coritiba), Ivan Martić (Spezia), Guillermo Rodriguez (Peñarol), Frederik Sørensen (køln - end of loan via Juventus), Gustavo Campanharo (Evian TG - end of loan via Bragantino), midfielders Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Sampdoria - on loan), Panagiotis Tachtsidīs (Genoa - end of loan via Catania) plus forwards Nicolás López (Granada - end of loan via Udinese), Neně (Spezia) and Javier Saviola (River Plate).
In the recent January session keeper Rafael (Cagliari), Icelandic midfielder Emil Halfređsson (Udinese) and Jacopo Sala (Sampdoria) had also left.
A lot of comings and goings, possibly too many.
Mandorlini had initially continued but then been replaced after 14 games (W 0, D 6, L 8, including Lazio 1-2). The new manager was Luigi Delneri and he had won 1, drawn 6 (including Roma and Milan, both 1-1 away and Inter 3-3 at home) and lost 3. Verona were currently bottom of the table, 20th on 15 points, 9 behind Sampdoria in 17th and safe. A desperate situation for the Scaligeri.
The Gialloblu were also out of the Coppa Italia as they had lost 0-3 to Napoli away in the last 16. Verona had previously eliminated Foggia 3-1 and Pavia 1-0, both at home.
Lazio were strong favourites today. A must win game against opponents who already looked like goners from Serie A but had not lost for five games while Lazio had not scored for three.
The match: Thursday, February 11, 2016, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A Thursday evening game due to the upcoming Italy vs England Six Nations rugby game. The stadium was a depressing sight, less than 10,000 spectators also due to the Curva Nord and Distinti being closed due to punishment for racist chants against Napoli defender Koulibaly. A chronic problem caused by a minority which affected the majority.
Lazio were without defenders Dušan Basta and Stefan Radu plus midfielder Marco Parolo. They also had long term injuries Stefan de Vrij and Santiago Gentiletti out.
Verona could not choose from defenders Eros Pisano, Samuel Souprayen or forward Luca Siligardi.
The first half, apart from the low temperature, looked more like a summer friendly. The rhythm was slow and Verona controlled Lazio's lacklustre attacks with ease. The Biancocelesti had a Felipe Anderson shot go just wide, Alessandro Matri arrived a fraction late on a Stefano Mauri assist and Senad Lulic had a central shot parried by Gianluigi Gollini. More was needed and expected.
It was in fact the visitors who went closer with headers by Giampiero Pazzini, which Federico Marchetti did extremely well to keep out, and Luca Toni wide from a Pawel Wszolek cross.
Just before the interval however, Lazio suddenly seemed to realise they had to accelerate if they wanted to get anything from the game. The goal soon came and just before the break.
In the 45th minute Danilo Cataldi dispossessed Ionita and set up Matri who stretched and with his left foot beat Gollini on the far post. Halftime Lazio 1 Verona 0.
The stats sum up the half; Lazio had 66% possession and 10 shots but only 3 on target. At least they had finally scored after 315 minutes.
In the second half Lazio continued in the livelier end of half mode. In the 50th minute they scored again. Lulic put in a long through ball which found Cataldi and the Roman born midfielder pulled it back for the incoming Mauri whose precise left foot beat Gollini. Lazio 2 Verona 0.
At this point the Gialloblu made two changes; Romulo for Mohamed Fares and Gilberto for Boško Janković.
Lazio almost let the Scaligeri straight back in it when Wesley Hoedt hit his own crossbar risking an own goal.
In the 69th minute however, Felipe Anderson appeared to have put the game to bed. Matri from the left squared into the middle, cutting out the keeper, where Anderson walked it in. Lazio 3 Verona 0.
Verona now tried the Juanito Gómez card, bringing on the more agile Papu for the more physical Pazzini.
Three minutes later Verona got what seemed like a consolation goal. In the 72nd minute, former Roma, Leandro Greco struck a great freekick into the top left-hand corner. Lazio 3 Verona 1.
Lazio then made their first substitution and on came Balde Keita for Mauri.
In the 79th minute the game was definitely reopened when Luca Toni was lost by Hoedt and coordinated himself to turn in a Greco low cross. Lazio 3 Verona 2. Lazio suddenly went into panic mode.
Lazio now replaced Matri with Miroslav Klose but it was Keita who saved their blushes. In the 82nd minute the Senegalese-Spanish forward restored Lazio’s two goal lead. A misunderstanding between Greco and Romulo allowed Klose to charge forward, he then crossed perfectly for Keita who brilliantly volleyed in from just inside the box. Lazio 4 Verona 2.
In the 85th minute and the game again under control Lazio made their last change with Antonio Candreva coming on for Felipe Anderson.
The game was won but there was time for another goal. In the 90th minute Lulic was fouled in the area and Candreva blasted in the penalty low to Gollini's right. Lazio 5 Verona 2 and final score.
A strange game. Soporific for 45 minutes, then first easy, then complicated for Lazio but ultimately won with a deceivingly comfortable score line.
A positive result for the Biancocelesti but their problems were far from being resolved.
Lazio moved up to 7th on 36 points while Verona were now 10 points from safety (Sampdoria and Genoa on 25).
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Konko, Mauricio, Hoedt, Lulic, Cataldi, Biglia, Milinkovic-Savic, F. Anderson (85' Candreva), Matri (80' Klose), Mauri (73' Keita)
Manager: Pioli
Who played for Verona
Gollini, Pisano, Moras, Helander, Fares (51' Romulo), Jankovic (51' Gilberto), Ionita, Greco, Wszolek, Toni, Pazzini (70' Gomez)
Substitutes: Coppola, Marcone, Bianchetti, Samir, Checchin, Furman, Emanuelson
Manager: Delneri
Referee: Gervasoni
Goals: 45' Matri, 50' Mauri, 69' F.Anderson. 72' Greco, 79' Toni, 82' Keita, 90' Candreva (pen)
What happened next
Lazio continued with their ups and downs. When the downs took over Pioli was sacked. After a 1-4 derby defeat on April 3 the manager from Parma was replaced by Simone Inzaghi. Lazio then won 4 (including Inter 2-0 at home) and lost 3, finishing 8th.
In the Europa League the Biancocelesti got the better of Galatasaray 4-2 on aggregate but then in the last 16 crashed out to Sparta Prague 1-4 on aggregate (0-3 at home).
Verona predictably ended up relegated. In the next game they won the derby beating Chievo 3-1 but in the remaining 12 games won 3 (including Milan and Juventus, both 2-1 at home), drew 1 and lost 8. They finished 20th, on 28 points, 11 points from safety. Top scorer was Toni with 7 goals (6 in A, as Pazzini).
Serie A was won by Juventus for their 32nd title while Verona's unfortunate travelling companions to lower-level football were Frosinone and Carpi (the Emiliani are now in Serie C).
Let's talk about Alessandro Matri
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Alessandro Matri was born in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano (Lodi-Lombardy) on August 19, 1984. He was brought up in the village of Graffignana near Lodi.
As a boy his favourite sport was not football but cycling and he won several races. A serious fall however then led him to opt for football.
His first clubs in his youth were local Virtus Don Bosco, Fanfulla both in Lodi and then, from 1986, A.C Milan.
He joined the Milan first team squad in 2002-03. The manager was Carlo Ancelotti and Matri played one league game, against Piacenza on May 24. The Rossoneri finished 3rd but won both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.
The following season Matri made no appearances for Milan. The Rossoneri won the Scudetto and the UEFA Super Cup under Ancelotti.
In 2004-05 Matri was loaned to Prato in C1 for a season. He played regularly making 32 league appearances with 14 goals plus 4 games in the C Coppa Italia with 2 goals. The "Fiordalisi" (Bluebottles) however were relegated.
In 2005-06 he played for Lumezzane on loan. The Rossoblu were in C1 but were relegated. Matri played 34 league games with 18 goals plus a game in the C Cup with 1 goal. One of his teammates was a young Mario Balotelli.
In the 2006-07 he was again loaned out, this time to Rimini in Serie B. The Biancorossi did well under Leonardo Arcori finishing 5th and so did Matri playing 34 league games with 16 goals plus 4 games in Coppa Italia with 2 goals.
In 2007 he was sold to Cagliari in Serie A. He stayed three and a half seasons. In the first the Rossoblu got through three managers (Marco Giampaolo, Nedo Sonetti and Davide Ballardini) and finished 14th. The following season Max Allegri arrived and Cagliari finished 9th. In the third season Allegri started but from the 34th fixture Giorgio Mellis came in and "Casteddu" finished 16th. In his fourth season, first under Pierpaolo Bisoli and then Roberto Donadoni, Matri only stayed until January. In his time on the island Matri played 131 games and scored 40 goals (36 in A). His performances earned him a call from Juventus.
At Juve the manager was Luigi Delneri. It was not a great year for the Bianconeri who finished 7th. Matri played 16 league games with 9 goals.
The following season, 2011-12, Antonio Conte arrived as manager and the Zebras won the Scudetto. Matri had a good season, playing 31 league games with 10 goals plus a game in Coppa Italia.
In 2012-13 the Bianconeri won the Scudetto again and the Italian Supercoppa. Matri played 22 league games with 8 goals, 3 games in Coppa Italia and 9 games in the Champions League with 2 goals.
In the summer of 2013, he returned to Milan but only stayed until January. The manager was Allegri from his Cagliari days and Matri played 15 league games with 1 goal and 3 games in the Champions League. Matri left after Christmas and Allegri was sacked soon after and Milan finished 8th under Clarence Seedorf.
Matri went to Fiorentina on loan. The manager was Vincenzo Montella and the Viola had a good season finishing 4th and beaten finalists in the Coppa Italia (Napoli 1-3). Matri played 15 league games with 4 goals, 3 games in Coppa Italia and 3 in the Europa League with 1 goal.
In 2014-15 he joined Genoa on loan. The Rossoblu had Gian Piero Gasperini as manager. Matri stayed until February, playing 16 league games with 7 goals and 1 game in Coppa Italia. He then returned to Juventus on loan while the Rossoblu finished 6th.
Back at Juventus he again found Allegri. The Bianconeri won the Scudetto and Coppa Italia but lost the final of Champions League 1-3 to Barcelona. Matri only played 5 league games, 2 games in Coppa Italia with 2 goals and 2 games in Champions League. Matri's highlight was scoring the winning goal in extra-time in the Coppa Italia final against Lazio.
In the summer he then joined Lazio on loan. The manager was first Stefano Pioli (1-31) and then Simone Inzaghi. The season started with the disappointment of losing the Champions League preliminary round to Bayer Leverkusen. Lazio then finished 8th in Serie A and also lost the Supercoppa final to Juventus. Matri played 19 league games with 4 goals (Udinese x2, Sampdoria, Verona) and 2 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Udinese).
Matri did not stay in the capital but instead was sold by Milan to Sassuolo in Serie A. He stayed three seasons, playing 73 league games with13 goals, 3 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal and 6 games in the Europa League. The "Sasôl" finished 12th (under Eusebio Di Francesco), 11th (under Cristian Bucchi and then Giuseppe Iachini) and 11th (under Roberto De Zerbi).
Matri then played one last season with Brescia in Serie A. It was a chaotic year with three different managers (Salvatore Lanna for two stints, Stefano Morrone and Michele Fini) and the Biancazzurri were relegated. Matri played 8 league games.
At almost 36 he then retired.
Matri won 7 caps for Italy (all in friendlies) and scored 1 goal (Ukraine).
He won 3 league titles, 2 Italian Supercoppe and 1 Coppa Italia, all with Juventus.
Matri was a centre-forward. He was a classic old-style striker. At 1.83 and 80 kilos he was strong physically. He was a hard battling player who always put in a good shift, helping out with high pressing but also defensively when needed. He scored goals too, 158 in his career (141 in A). He was not an outstanding player but was a good, solid, reliable club player who had a positive Serie A career.
At Lazio he only stayed one year on loan. It was not a great year for the club as they did not repeat the excellent previous one. Matri did his bit however, playing 31 games with 7 goals.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
2015-16 | 31 (7) | 19 (4) | 2 (1) | 10 (2) |
Sources
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