Lazio demolish Fiorentina

Season 2014-15

Game 26, Serie A

Monday, March 9, 2015

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Fiorentina 4-0

A goal after six minutes and three more in the second half help Lazio win a no contest affair

Lazio came into today's game on a four-match winning streak. So far the Biancocelesti had won 13, drawn 4 and lost 8, so on 43 points were in fourth place. A week earlier Lazio had defeated Sassuolo 3-0 away.

Today's opposition Fiorentina were in a good moment. They had won 11, drawn 9 and lost 5 (including Lazio 2-0), giving them 42 points (4 behind Lazio).

The match

Played on a Monday night, the Olimpico gathered a crowd of about 35,000.

Fiorentina presented more or less their strongest line-up with the exception of defender Gonzalo Rodriguez. For Lazio, Stefano Mauri was back and played up front alongside Miroslav Klose.

Lazio made their intentions clear right from the early minutes and attacked furiously. After only six minutes their positive approach was rewarded. A defensive clearance was met by Lucas Biglia just outside the box and, with the ball coming down from a height, the Argentine co-ordinated himself perfectly and sent a textbook low volley into the right hand corner. A superb goal for technique and power, 1-0 Lazio.

The whole first half continued in the same mould. Lazio had chance upon chance to score more goals. Three minutes after the opener, Klose went through the Viola defence but his chipped shot was blocked by Norbeto Neto. Felipe Anderson had two shots saved by Neto, Mauri put a close range shot over the bar, from a low Antonio Candreva cross, and then Biglia almost re-enacted his first goal with a marvellous volley from the same position, only this time the strike was medium height, but Neto deflected it onto the post. And Fiorentina? Their only shot was a dangerous Mati Fernandez freekick that shaved the post, although it did look as if Federico Marchetti had it covered. Halftime score Lazio 1 Fiorentina 0, but it could have been 3 or 4.

For the second half, in an attempt to stem Lazio’s total dominance in midfield, Fiorentina brought on former Roma David Pizarro for Alessandro Diamanti. Then in the 55th minute striker Gilardino came on for a subdued Josip Ilicic.

In the first twenty minutes Lazio were less rampant but always looked in control of the game, Fiorentina never really threatened the Lazio keeper. In the 65th minute, Lazio doubled their lead. Felipe Anderson was unstoppable on the left wing and was tripped in the area by Nenad Tomovic. Candreva struck a powerful low penalty to the left and Neto dived to the right, Lazio 2 Fiorentina 0.

Fiorentina pushed forward without lucidity or conviction and for Lazio it became child's play to find space on the counter attack.

In the 75th minute Candreva charged into the right side of the area, his shot was parried by Neto and spun up to Klose who, with a diving header, made it three. Lazio 3 Fiorentina 0.

Fiorentina were dead and buried and five minutes from the end Lazio scored again. Substitute Keita Balde had a shot saved by Neto, Klose got to the rebound but Neto saved again, the ball again fell to Klose who, surrounded by dormant defenders, hammered in his second goal of the evening. Lazio 4 Fiorentina 0. And Fiorentina? All they could muster was another Fernandez freekick from almost midfield, well saved by Marchetti.

A completely one-sided match which could have ended up 6 or 7 zero. A superb display by Lazio against a visiting team who looked tired and demoralised. Lazio with today's three points went up to joint third place with Napoli and had an even better view on the Champions League slots.

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti, Basta, de Vrij, Mauricio (49' Novaretti), Radu, Biglia, Cataldi, Candreva (76' Keita), Mauri (80' Onazi), Felipe Anderson, Klose