2022-23 Season
Europa League Group Stage
Group F, Game 1
September 8, 2022
Rome, Stadio Olimpico
Lazio Feyenoord 4-2
Lazio demolished Feyenoord in the first half, showing a clear superiority, but allowed the Dutch to come back in the second half.
The teams
Everybody thought there were going to be changes in the team so that some of the players could get some rest, but in the end Maurizio Sarri only changes a few players. Arne Slot has the same idea and keeps rotation to a minimum. Both managers know that this first game is vital since it sets the course for the rest of the tournament.
No contest
Before they start, there is a minute's silence for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Lazio immediately take control and start pushing forward. In the 4th minute Luis Alberto passes the ball to Matias Vecino who then slips it through the gaping central hole left by the Dutch defence. The Spaniard, all alone in front of the goalkeeper, does not miss. 1-0 for Lazio.
11 minutes later, Lazio make it two. Ciro Immobile on the counter attack makes a long pass to Felipe Anderson on the right. Felipetto controls the ball, moves past a Dutch defender and shoots. Justin Bijow does not get down in time and it's 2-0.
Vecino has a chance in the 26th minute but the goalkeeper miraculously saves. He will not be as lucky one minute later. Mattia Zaccagni receives the ball from Adam Marusic in the penalty box on the left, his cross is palmed away by Bijow, Vecino is quicker than the Dutch defence and scores his first goal for Lazio.
Another chance for Lazio in the 35th minute when Luis Alberto hits the crossbar directly from a corner. Six minutes later Marusic has a chance after a one-two with Immobile, but his shot is easily read and saved.
Where are Feyenoord? Completely flattened by the Lazio steamroller, the first signs of life from the Dutch arrive in the 43rd minute when a lame shot by Sebastian Szymański is saved without any problems at all by Ivan Provedel.
Different second half
Lazio switch off and Feyenoord start to play. The Dutch are dangerous in the 48th minute when Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s shot is blocked out for a corner by Alessio Romagnoli, and again in the 53rd minute. Luis Alberto loses the ball, Patrik Wålemark is unmarked just outside the penalty box but in a central shooting position with all the time in the world to place the ball. Wide.
Immobile has a chance in the 59th minute but his shot goes out. Three minutes later Luis Alberto on the counterattack tries to pass the ball to Immobile. It is just slightly long for Ciro, but perfect for Vecino who does not miss. 4-0.
Feyenoord go for the subs. In come Santiago Gimenez and Javairo Dilrosun, out Danilo Pereira and Matts Wieffer.
There is about half an hour to go, so Lazio, in a friendly spirit, decide it's time to let someone else play too. The referee is also feeling generous. In the 66th minute Marcus Pedersen’s low cross from inside the penalty box on the right is perfect for Gimenez who shoots but the ball hits Romagnoli, the Mexican forward gets to the rebound and there is a clash with Vecino. Penalty.
Penalty? In slow motion it looks like the Lazio player did not even touch the striker. VAR is surely bound to change that decision. It does not. Gimenez takes the penalty and it's 4-1.
Feyenoord start to believe, Lazio are comatose. Sarri tries to liven his team up with some substitutions: five players come in for Lazio between the 69th and 77th minute. Toma Basic, Matteo Cancellieri and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (who reaches 300 appearances for Lazio!!!), Patric and Stefan Radu take the places of Luis Alberto, Immobile, Vecino, Romagnoli and Marusic.
Lazio by now are snoring deeply, so the Dutch attack as if it were still 0-0. Kokcu has an incredible chance in the 80th minute but he shoots wide from a favourable position. Eight minutes later Feyenoord pull another one back. Idrissi, who had substituted Walemark in the 70th minute, enters the penalty box in the far-left corner. His shot hits the underside of the cross-bar, then the post and then back into play, becoming a perfect assist for Gimenez for the tap in.
A Milinkovic-Savic shot in the 90th minute is well saved by Bijow and Cancellieri is not quick enough on the rebound.
A minute later Gila loses the ball in the penalty box. Gimenez gets there first and Gila brings him down. The referee points to the penalty spot. Penalty? It looks like Gila got to the ball first. This time VAR does its job well and there is no penalty.
One last chance for Feyenoord in the 5th minute of injury time. Igor Paixao’s shot is just wide. The match is over and the ref calls it a day.
Lazio basically crushed Feyenoord, but the last half an hour was far from satisfactory. More attention will be needed next time.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Hysaj, Gila, Romagnoli (73’ Patric), Marusic (75’ Radu), Vecino (69’ Milinkovic-Savic), Cataldi, Luis Alberto (69’ Basic), Felipe Anderson, Immobile (69’ Cancellieri), Zaccagni
Substitutes: Maximiano, Magro, Casale, Lazzari, Marco Antonio, Bertini, Romero
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Feyenoord
Bijlow, Pedersen, Trauner, Hancko, Hartman, Timber (86' Paixao), Kokcu, Szymanski (46' Jahanbakhsh), Walemark (70' Idrissi), Pereira (64' Gimenez), Dilrosun (64' Wieffer).
Substitutes: Marciano, Wellenreuther, Bjorkan, Rasmussen, Lopez, Benita, Taabouni.
Manager: Slot.
Referee: de Burgos (Spain)
Goals: 4’ Luis Alberto, 15’ Felipe Anderson, 28’ Vecino, 63’ Vecino, 69’ Gimenez (pen), 88’ Gimenez
Bookings: Felipe Anderson, Idrissi
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