Lazio-Real Madrid 2-2

Season 2000-01

Champions League, Game 4, Second Group Phase

Wednesday, February 21, 2001

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Real Madrid 2-2

Lazio denied win against mighty Blancos by two crossbars and two defensive mistakes

In Serie A things had not gone as hoped and Lazio were currently in 3rd position but well off leaders Roma. In early January Sven Goran Eriksson had resigned due to Lazio's difficulties and a 5th position but also as he had already agreed to become England national coach from June 2001 and thought it was the right thing to do. Dino Zoff took over and things had improved with 6 wins and a draw.

In today's competition, the Champions League, Lazio were in the second group phase.

They had started the tournament in September in the first group phase. The Biancocelesti had won 4 (Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 away and 5-1 at home, Sparta Prague 3-0 at home and 1-0 away), drawn 1 (Arsenal 1-1 at home) and lost 1 (Arsenal 0-2 away), finishing 2nd but qualified.

In the second group phase things had started badly with 3 defeats (Anderlecht 0-1 away, Leeds United 0-1 at home and Real Madrid 2-3 away, with a dubious last-minute penalty). This evening was for prestige but also to still give themselves a slight chance of qualifying. The problem was the opposition were the mighty Real Madrid.

A big game tonight especially for Lazio.

The match

Ticket owned by Dag Jenkins. Photo by Dag Jenkins

A humid evening but a great atmosphere and about 50,000 spectators.

Lazio were without midfielders Dino Baggio and Karel Poborský who were not in their European list as they had already played for Parma and Benfica but, more importantly, Alessandro Nesta and Juan Sebastian Veron who were both suspended, plus Claudio López injured.

Real Madrid played reserve keeper César Sanchez and were missing English midfielder Steve McManaman and forward Fernando Morientes.

Lazio, as in Madrid a week earlier, came out firing. The Biancocelesti took the lead in the same minute as at the Bernabeu, the 4th. Lucas Castromán took the initiative and went on a good run down the right, beat three Spaniards but was tackled by Roberto Carlos as he entered the box, the ball then came across low to Pavel Nedved in the middle who hit a low left foot which first went through Fernando Hierro's legs and then those of an uncertain Sánchez. Lazio 1 Real Madrid 0. Another dream start for the Romans.

Lazio continued on the front foot and had two more big chances. In the 11th minute César did well to narrow the angle on a dangerous Diego Simeone effort and in the 29th Hernán Crespo hit the crossbar with a header cum shoulder effort.

The Merengues' reaction was tame but they gradually gained ground and managed to equalise in the 32nd minute with some help from Lazio's backline. Angelo Peruzzi hoofed the ball into Real's half and all the Lazio defenders ran forward but it was volleyed straight forward again by Claude Makélélé, Santiago Solari beat the offside trap (Guti and Raúl were both off but not involved) and brilliantly chipped Peruzzi. Lazio 1 Real Madrid 1. Solari had taken the goal well but the Lazio defence had been sleeping.

The game was balanced with neither side getting the upper hand or having any clear chances and halftime came with the sides level on 1-1.

Lazio started strongly after the break too and took back the lead early on. In the 52nd minute it was Castromán again who surged forward more centrally on the right, this time he entered the box, dribbled, cut inside and shot, the ball ricocheted off the keeper and then Geremi's chest and was stabbed in from close range by Crespo. An opportunist goal but Lazio 2 Real Madrid 1.

Again, Real's reaction was far from fierce but they did put Lazio’s defence under constant pressure despite not creating anything really dangerous.

In the 64th and 69th minutes the Blancos replaced Iván Helguera with Albert Celades and Guti with Pedro Munitis.

Lazio seemed to be controlling the Madrileños' attacks well until the 73rd minute. On a cross from the right by Munitis the Lazio defenders Paolo Negro and Beppe Pancaro were beaten in the air by Raúl who headed backwards and over Peruzzi. Lazio 2 Real Madrid 2.

Again, a defensive hesitation had let the Spaniards equalise.

Lazio generously went forward in the later stages. The Biancocelesti made a couple of changes too; Simone Inzaghi for Marcelo Salas immediately after the Real goal and Roberto Baronio for Sinisa Mihajlovic in the 81st minute.

The visitors were pleased with the draw as it was enough for an early qualification and slowed the game down with a final substitution in the 90th minute when Aitor Karanka came on for Luís Figo.

Lazio wanted and needed a win but luck was not on their side when, in the 94th and last minute of injury time, Castromán's strike hit the crossbar. Final score Lazio 2 Real Madrid 2.

A valiant performance by Lazio but the woodwork twice and two defensive hesitations had cost them a prestigious win. It was also indispensable to be able to continue in the Champions League which Lazio were now officially out of as Leeds United had beaten Anderlecht 4-1 away.

The table read Real 10, Leeds 9, Anderlecht 3, Lazio 1.

A pity as a win was within Lazio's grasp tonight against a Real Madrid side who had not seemed unbeatable.

Who played for Lazio

Peruzzi, Pancaro, Negro, F. Couto, Favalli, Castroman, Simeone, Mihajlovic (81' Baronio), Nedved, Crespo, Salas (73' S. Inzaghi)