In trouble

Season 2024-25

Game 30, Serie A

Monday, March 31, 2025

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Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Torino 1-1

Lazio waste a chance to go higher up and now Europe is going to be difficult

Source Lazio Wiki

The team

Everybody was back from the international break but there were still some players injured such as Taty Castellanos and Nuno Tavares. Marco Baroni decided to give Mario Gila a rest and put Pedro in the three man forward line with Boulaye Dia as centre-forward. Elseid Hysaj was placed as right back with Adam Marusic on the left. Luca Pellegrini was back on the bench for the first time since his return to the roster after Patric was ruled out for the rest of the season due to injury and consequent surgery.

First half

In the 13th minute on the counter attack, Gustav Isaksen ran down the pitch and passed to Dia who tried a shot but was walled. Isaksen went for the cross towards the other side of the box, in came Mattia Zaccagni who tried a volley which Vanja Milinkovic-Savic parried. Five minutes later a ball towards Pedro saw the Granata keeper forced to run out of the box but he fumbled, Pedro dispossessed him and tried a shot towards an almost open goal but Milinkovic-Savic managed to dive just in time to avoid Lazio scoring and then Isaksen sent the ball wide. In the 26th minute Nicolò Rovella tried a shot but it also went wide. In the 42nd minute a bad pass from Ivan Provedel to Matteo Guendouzi, Cesare Casadei managed to cross into the box for Ché Adams who was unable to make decent contact and Samuel Gigot cleared.

A better Lazio compared to previous games but still in difficulty against teams that press well.

Second half

In the 52nd minute Cristiano Biraghi took a free kick on the left about 45 metres out, Gulliermo Maripán jumped higher than Alessio Romagnoli and headed towards the goal, great save by Provedel.

Five minutes later the Biancocelesti scored. Isaksen on the right wing gave a good ball to Pedro just outside the penalty area but central. His ball control disorientated the Torino defence, he passed to Marusic who with a great curling shot beat Milinkovic-Savic. Fourth goal of the season for him.

First substitution for Baroni: in came Tijani Noslin in place of Dia.

In the enthusiasm Lazio attacked looking for a second. Zaccagni in the 67th minute went into the box and tried a shot, Milinkovic-Savic saved. A minute later, Rovella in the box for Noslin, Maripán in diving towards the ball first hit it with his arm and then fouled Rovella. No penalty. Immediately afterwards Isaksen crossed and Noslin tried a header, Milinkovic-Savic saved into corner. In the 78th minute a Guendouzi shot shaved the post.

There were quite a number of substitutions. Torino changed three – in came Gvidas Gineitis, Antonio Sanabria and Yann Karamoh for Cesare Casadei, Nikola Vlasic and Sebastian Walukiewicz – Lazio two – Pellegrini for Hysaj and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru for Pedro.

Missed opportunities translate into goals conceded. In the 82nd minute Karamoh to Biraghi in the box on the left near the byline, ball back to the centre, deflection off Gigot, Gineitis had all the time in the world to shoot since Dele-Bashiru was late in covering, ball under Provedel’s legs, 1-1.

Game over. Lazio did not have the strength either physically or mentally to go forward. All the other teams involved in the fight for the fourth Champions League place won, qualification for European top tier football has become increasingly difficult.

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Marusic, Gigot, Romagnoli, Hysaj (73` Pellegrini), Rovella, Guendouzi, Pedro (73` Dele-Bashiru), Zaccagni, Dia (66` Noslin), Isaksen (90' Tchaouna)

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Belahyane, Provstgaard, Basic, Lazzari, Gila

Manager: Baroni

Who played for Torino

Milinkovic-Savic, Walukiewicz (71' Karamoh), Coco, Maripán, Biraghi, Casadei (71' Gineitis), Ricci, Lazaro (85' Pedersen), Vlasic (71' Sanabria), Elmas; Adams (85' Ilic)

Substitutes: Paleari, Donnarumma, Masima, Ilic, Pedersen, Dembelè, Sosa, Tameze, Linetty

Manager: Vanoli

Referee: Massa

Goals: 57’ Marusic, 82’ Gineitis

Booked: Lazaro (T), Zaccagni (L), Maripán (T), Ricci (T), Walukiewicz (T), Guendouzi (L), Romagnoli (L).