Pre Season Friendly
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Real Sociedad 2-0
An early goal by Cissé and a late one by Sculli sink Basque visitors
This year Edy Reja had been confirmed but there had been a few changes to the squad.
The main novelty was in goal, as Lazio had bought Federico Marchetti from Cagliari while Fernando Muslera went to Galatasaray, in Turkey. The other main new arrivals were defenders Abdoulay Konko (Genoa) and Lorik Cana (Galatasaray), midfielder Senad Lulic (Young Boys, a name to watch out for… Lulic that is), forwards Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos) and above all Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich).
The other main player leaving so far was defender Stephan Lichtsteiner (Juventus) while defender Javier Garrido, midfielder Pasquale Foggia and striker Stephen Makinwa were out of favour and the club were desperately trying to place them elsewhere. More players would however leave Rome over the summer.
Four days earlier had played a friendly against Greek side Aris Thessaloniki. The Biancocelesti had won 2-0 but it had been in Rieti, so this evening's game was their first in front of their home supporters. Their debut against Rabotnicki in Europa League was only a week away.
The match
A hot August evening, only three days before national holiday "Ferragosto", gathered 15,000 at the Olimpico.
Lazio started with new signing Cissé but neither Lulic nor Klose. "Los Txuri- urdin" (White and Blue) visitors were without Antoine Griezmann.
Lazio began well and went ahead almost immediately. In the 4th minute a Cristian Ledesma corner was headed in by Cissé. 1-0 to Lazio and a perfect way for the Frenchman to present himself to his new fans. He then exhibited his celebratory somersault.
Lazio then had several more chances to score a second with Cissé again, Tommaso Rocchi and Stefano Mauri. A one sided first half closed however with the Basques going close to an equaliser. Ledesma was sloppy and lost possession allowing Agirretxe through, but Marchetti came off his line and narrowed the angle well, thwarting the danger. Half time: Lazio 1 Real Sociedad 0.
So far a convincing performance by Lazio who despite the late scare had dominated the game.
For the second half Reja made five changes: Albano Bizzarri for Marchetti, Luciano Zauri for Lionel Scaloni, Francelino Matuzalém for Ledesma, Libor Kozak for Cissé and Mauro Zarate for Rocchi. The visitors from Donostia continued with an unchanged line-up.
The second half was similar to the first, in the sense it was controlled by Lazio, but slowed down. Zarate was particularly active and Matuzalem was impressive in midfield. More substitutions followed in the 60th minute Giuseppe Sculli for Mauri and Modibo Diakité for an excellent Giuseppe Biava.
Despite Lazio's superiority, "La Rea" had one big chance to equalise. In the 73rd minute Immanol Agirretxe went round Bizzarri but then put the ball wide. Lazio definitely closed the game eight minutes later. In the 81st minute a good cross from the left by Matuzalem was headed in by Sculli. Lazio 2-Real Sociedad 0.
A good test and win for Lazio against a Liga side who still looked some way off being ready for the new season which however was not for another two weeks.
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti (46' Bizzarri), Scaloni (46' Zauri ), Biava (60' Diakitè), Dias ( 75' Stendardo), Garrido, Brocchi, Ledesma (46' Matuzalem), Mauri (60' Sculli), Hernanes, Cissé (46' Kozak), Rocchi (46' Zarate)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Real Sociedad
Tono, Martínez (67' Cadamuro), Mikel, Agirretxe, Xabi Prieto, Aranburu (79' Elustondo), Zurutuza, Illarra, Dani Estrada (80' Ifran), De La Bella (80' Llorente), Inigo Martinez
Substitutes: Zubirarakaai, Ros, Sarpong, Ansotegi, Ruben Pardo, Iker Hernandez
Manager: Montanier
Referee: Banti
Goals: 4' Cissé, 81' Sculli
Sources
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