So near yet Suso far
Lazio superior but fail to close out game and are punished late on by Suso
Also on this day: February 13, 2011, Brescia Lazio 0-2. Lazio win at Brescia with goals from Gonzalez and Kozak and fly to third place. Player of the day: Alvaro "El Tata" Gonzalez
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 8th. The Biancocelesti had played 31 league games under Stefano Pioli and then the last 7 with Simone Inzaghi. They had reached the last 16 of Europa League (after failing to get through the CL preliminary round against Bayer Leverkusen) and the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia.
This year Marcelo Bielsa had been chosen but "El Loco" lived up to his name and resigned after only a few days due to divergences over transfer market issues. At this point Simone Inzaghi was called back.
The main new signings were goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha (Salernitana- end of loan), defenders Bastos (Rostov), Jordan Lukaku (Oostende), Wallace (Braga), midfielder Luís Alberto (Liverpool) and striker Ciro Immobile (Seville).
Leaving were goalkeeper Etrit Berisha (Atalanta - on loan), defenders Edson Braafheid (end of contract), Santiago Gentiletti (Genoa), Abdoulay Konko (end of contract), Mauricio (Spartak Moscow - on loan), midfielders Antonio Candreva (Inter), Ogenyi "Eddy" Onazi (Trabzonspor), Stefano Mauri (end of contract) and striker Miroslav Klose (retired). So, a few players difficult to replace.
The season had started with a 4-3 away win at Atalanta followed by a 0-1 home defeat by Juventus and a 1-1 away draw at Chievo Verona. Since then, Lazio had won 12, drawn 3 and lost 5. Lazio were currently in 4th place, on 43 points. A week earlier the Biancocelesti had thrashed Pescara 6-2 away.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had qualified for the semi-finals to be played in March-April against Roma. The Biancocelesti had eliminated Genoa 4-2 at home and then Inter 2-1 away.
Milan had finished 7th the previous season. Sinisa Mihajlovic had started as manager but was replaced by Cristian Brocchi after 32 matches. The Rossoneri were also losing finalists in the Coppa Italia (Juventus 0-1, a.e.t).
This year the manager was Vincenzo Montella. The main new players were midfielders Mario Pašalić (Chelsea-on loan) and Suso (Genoa-end of loan) plus forward Gianluca Lapadula (Pescara). In January two more players arrived on loan, midfielder Lucas Ocampos (Genoa) and forward Gerard Deulofeu (Everton).
Leaving were keeper Christian Abbiati (retiring), defender Phillipe Mexes (end of contract), midfielders Kevin-Prince Boateng (end of contract), forwards Mario Balotelli (Nice) and Jérémy Menez (Bordeaux). In January forwards Luiz Adriano (Spartak Moscow) and M' Baye Niang (Watford) had also left.
The Rossoneri were currently in 7th place, on 40 points. They had won 12 (including Lazio 2-0 and Juventus 1-0 both at home), drawn 4 (including derby 2-2) and lost 7. The "Diavolo" however, came from three consecutive league defeats (Napoli at home, Udinese away and Sampdoria at home). They had however won a game in hand away to Bologna on February 8 (in the last minute in 9 men….)
In Coppa Italia, the Rossoneri got through the round of 16, beating Torino 2-1 at home but then lost 1-2 away to Juventus in the quarter finals.
In December Milan had lifted a trophy, the Italian Supercoppa. The "Casciavit" (The Screwdrivers, in dialect for their working-class origins) had defeated Juventus on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Milan were not having their best season in the league but they had some good players: keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, defenders Alessio Romagnoli, midfielders Giacomo Bonaventura, Keisuke Honda, Manuel Locatelli, Suso, Riccardo Montolivo, Mario Pašalić, forward Carlos Bacca to name a few. Not vintage Milan, but still dangerous.
An open game today with only three points between them in the table, although on recent form Lazio could be considered slight favourites.
The match: Monday, February 13, 2017, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
An 8.45 p.m kick-off on a cold, humid February evening only attracted about 20,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
Lazio were without Luis Alberto and Danilo Cataldi, while Milan were missing Alessio Romagnoli, Giacomo Bonaventura and Riccardo Montolivo.
Lazio started out on the attack and had several chances to take the lead. Balde Keita had a shot saved in two attempts by Gianluigi Donnarumma, Lucas Biglia had a thundering shot from outside the box parried by the keeper, Ciro Immobile had a header go just wide, Keita tried but Donnarumma saved in two attempts again, Immobile pulled a left foot slightly wide, Wesley Hoedt had a close-range effort well saved and on the rebound the Dutch defender was just off target. What about Milan?
The visitors only chance came from a huge Dušan Basta mistake which sent Lucas Ocampos clear on the left side of the area where he shot low on the far post, but Thomas Strakosha dived to his left and blocked.
Then it was all Lazio again. In the 45th minute Felipe Anderson squared low into the area from the right and Immobile controlled it, glided past a defender and then went past Donnarumma too who pulled him down for a penalty. Luca Biglia took it and blasted a medium height shot to the right of Donnarumma who went the right way and almost touched it but the shot was too powerful. Lazio 1 Milan 0.
A more than deserved lead for Lazio who should have been two or three goals clear already.
Lazio were superior in the second half too. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic narrowly failed to get a touch in front of goal from a low Anderson cross from the left and then Anderson himself had two shots which shaved the woodwork.
Milan's only answer was a José Sosa long distance freekick well parried by Strakosha into corner.
Lazio wanted a second and a Milinkovic-Savic curler on the far post went just wide and then Immobile had an enormous chance as, following a fortuitous ricochet from a Senad Lulic initiative, he found himself with just Donnarumma to beat but was unable to angle his low shot enough and the big keeper dived down to his left and saved.
The laws of football are simple, if you have the chances and don't take them it is extremely likely you will be made to pay. This is what happened in the 85th minute when Suso did well to keep the ball between three defenders and stroke a low curling left foot inside the far post. A snooker like shot and an excellent goal but completely against the run of play. Lazio 1 Milan 1 and final score.
A game dominated by Lazio who could have scored five or six. Lazio only had themselves to blame for not putting the devils out of their misery. Milan did practically nothing but thanked Suso's late master stroke to salvage a point.
Lazio slipped down to 6th, on 44 points, overtaken by both Inter and Atalanta. Milan were still 7th, on 41 points.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Basta, de Vrij, Hoedt, Radu (86' Patric), Parolo, Biglia, Milinkovic-Savic, Felipe Anderson (86' Lombardi), Immobile, Keita (64' Lulic)
Substitutes: Vargic, Wallace, Bastos, Lukaku, Murgia, Mohamed, Crecco, Djordjevic, Tounkara
Manager: S. Inzaghi
Who played for Milan
Donnarumma, Abate, Zapata, Gomez, Vangioni, Pasalic, Poli (77' Mati Fernandez), Locatelli (52' Sosa), Suso, Deulofeu, Ocampos (62' Lapadula)
Substitutes: Storari, Plizzari, Zucchetti, El Hilali, Honda, Bertolacci, Bacca
Manager: Montella
Referee: Damato
Goals: 45+1 Biglia (pen), 85' Suso
What happened next
Lazio had a decent season finishing 5th and qualified for the Europa League. After today's game they won four in a row. In the end the Biancocelesti won 21 (including Samp 7-3, Palermo 6-2), drew 7 and lost 10. The highlight in the league was defeating Roma 3-1 in April despite a scandalous penalty for the Giallorossi (the famous Strootman theatrical simulation). Top scorer was Ciro Immobile with 26 goals (23 in A).
In the Coppa Italia they reached the final after eliminating Roma 4-3 on aggregate. They were then however defeated 0-2 by Juventus.
Milan finished 6th and so qualified for the Europa League. After today's game the Rossoneri won three in a row. They ended up with 18 wins, 9 draws (including second derby 2-2) and 11defeats. Top scorer was Carlos Bacca with 14 goals (13 in A).
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 33rd time and 6th consecutive. The Bianconeri therefore won the double. The three teams sadly waving goodbye were Empoli, Palermo and Pescara (the Palermitani and Pescaresi have not been back since).
Lazio 2016-17
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 74 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 3 | - | 2 | 10 |
Total | 43 | 24 | 7 | 12 | 84 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Felipe Anderson | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Immobile | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Milinkovic-Savic | 39 | 34 | 5 |
Parolo | 38 | 34 | 4 |
Lulic | 35 | 31 | 4 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Immobile | 26 | 23 | 3 |
Keita Balde | 16 | 16 | - |
Milinkovic-Savic | 7 | 4 | 3 |
Felipe Anderson | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Parolo | 5 | 5 | - |
Biglia | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Let’s talk about: Cristiano Lombardi
Cristiano Lombardi was born in Viterbo (Lazio), on August 19, 1995.
His youth career was spent with local Calcio Tuscia (2000-10), Siena (2010-11) and Lazio (2011-14). With Lazio Primavera (U19's) he won a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia and an Italian Supercoppa with Simone Inzaghi as manager.
In 2014-15 Lazio sent him on loan to Trapani in Serie B. The manager was first Roberto Boscaglia and then, from March, Serse Cosmi. The Granata finished 11th and Lombardi played 12 league games.
In 2015-16 he spent a year on loan at Ancona in Lega Pro (3rd tier). The manager was Giovanni Cornacchini and the Dorici finished 4th Lombardi played 25 league games with 4 goals plus one game in the Coppa Italia Lega Pro.
In 2016-17 he was back at Lazio. The manager was Simone Inzaghi who works well with youngsters. Lombardi played 18 league games with 1 goal (Atalanta on debut) and one game in Coppa Italia. Lazio finished 5th (Europa League). Lazio won the Italian Supercoppa beating Juventus 3-2.
In 2017-18 however he was sent out on loan again, this time to Benevento in Serie A. The manager was first Marco Baroni (1-9, after nine defeats...) and then, currently at Brighton, Roberto De Zerbi (10-38). The Giallorossi ended up relegated and Lombardi played 17 league games. The highlight of their season was drawing with Milan 2-2 thanks to a 95th equaliser by the goalkeeper Brignoli.
In 2018-19 Lombardi was back at Lazio. Inzaghi was still manager but Lombardi got no playing time and left in January.
He joined Venezia on loan in Serie B. The manager was first Walter Zenga and then from the 27th fixture Serse Cosmi from his Trapani days. The Lagunari finished 15th and went down after a playoff (Salernitana on penalties), only to be put back in Serie B for other clubs' misdemeanours. Lombardi played 10 league games plus one playoff game.
In 2019-20 he joined Salernitana on loan in Serie B. The manager was first Tiziano De Patre (1-17) and then Luigi Genovese (18-38) and the Granata finished 10th. Lombardi played 21 league games with 5 goals (Ascoli, Empoli, Cosenza, Cittadella x2) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. One of his teammates was future Lazio Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro (2020-22).
In 2020-21 Lombardi stayed in Salerno. The Manager was Fabrizio Castori and Lombardi only played 3 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. For the record the "Ippocampi" (The Seahorses) were promoted to Serie A.
In 2021-22 he came back to Lazio again. The manager was now Maurizio Sarri. By January Lombardi had not played so in February he joined Reggina on loan in Serie B. The manager was Roberto Stellone and the Amaranto finished 14th. Lombardi played 8 league games.
In 2022-23 he played with Triestina on loan in Serie C. The "Unione" got through three managers: Andrea Bonatti (1-7), Massimo Pavanel (8-24) and Augusto Gentilini (25-38) and only stayed up after a playoff (Sangiuliano City 2-1 on aggregate). Lombardi only played 4 league games.
In 2023 he came back to Lazio but is not involved in Sarri’s plans and will most likely move on again soon.
Lombardi played 3 games for Italy U'18's with 3 goals and 2 games for the U-19's.
He is a right winger and can play as a forward or in right midfield. His main asset is his speed. His best year so far was probably at Salernitana in 2019-20.
At Lazio he showed potential in the youth sides and in the 2016-17 season with the first team but then, like the majority of youth players, did not make it at the top level and now at 28 it is unlikely he will.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
2016-17 | 19 (1) | 18 (1) | 41 |
Sources
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