Prestigious draw

Updated: 21 hours ago

Season 2007-08

Game 2, Champions League Group Phase

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Real Madrid 2-2

The Biancocelesti hold the mighty Real Madrid to a draw in a match they even could have won

The first game of the season was the Champions League qualifying round against Dinamo Bucharest. After drawing the first leg 1-1 at home, Lazio managed to win 3-1 in Bucharest and reach the group phase.

The first group game had seen Lazio draw away to Olympiacos. Now they had to face the mighty Real Madrid

The match

Little Lazio versus mighty Real Madrid. A dream. The Biancocelesti were clearly the underdogs but hoped that the Blancos would underestimate them.

However, Real's strength showed immediately. Free kick on the left, Wesley Sneijder crossed the ball in, Ruud Van Nistelrooy got a foot to it and beat Marco Ballotta.

Lazio were a bit in awe of the Blancos in the first 20 minutes so Madrid decided to control the game also due to the fact that they did not think the Biancocelesti would challenge them much. But suddenly Lazio realised that they could put the Spanish in difficulty and started to play. In the 26th minute Goran Pandev found himself all alone in front of Iker Casillas, thanks to a splendid pass from Tommaso Rocchi, but kicked it wide. In the 31st minute the Spanish goalkeeper was miraculous in saving a Massimo Mutarelli header off a Cristian Ledesma cross. The ball arrived to Gaby Mudingayi who passed to Ledesma. The Argentinian tried to pass to Rocchi but was intercepted, ball to Luciano Zauri who crossed from the left, Guglielmo Stendardo headed the ball to Pandev who just inside the box volleyed the ball in. A fantastic goal.

Real Madrid woke up and in the 37th minute Sergio Ramos after dribbling past Zauri and Mutarelli shot high from a good position.

In the second half Lazio took over control of the match. In the 52nd minute Stefano Mauri had a chance but his shot was parried by Casillas. Five minutes later a marvellous ball from Pandev to Rocchi but the Lazio centre-forward shot wide from a favourable position. In the 61st minute Real scored again. Raul sent Van Nistelrooy all alone in front of Ballotta. No mistake. Lazio 1 Real Madrid 2.

The game seemed over but it was not. In the 75th minute Mudingayi stole a ball in Madrid’s half and passed to Pandev who from outside the box beat Casillas.

Lazio had the chance to win in the 90th minute with Stephen Makinwa but his shot was saved by Casillas.

A brave, gutsy performance from the underdogs. The Biancocelesti could have won but perhaps that would have been asking too much.

Who played for Lazio

Ballotta, Behrami (66’ Scaloni), Stendardo, Cribari, Zauri, Mudingayi, Ledesma, Mutarelli, Mauri (78’ Del Nero), Rocchi (66’ Makinwa), Pandev