Physical issues

Season 2024-25

Game 28, Serie A

Monday, March 10, 2025

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Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Udinese 1-1

A tired Lazio are unable to go further than a draw against a well organised Udinese.

Source Lazio Wiki

The team

Still missing Taty Castellanos and without Nuno Tavares as well as Nicolò Rovella, Marco Baroni was finally able to play Matias Vecino coming back from his injury. A difficult game today, Lazio had looked tired in the Czech Republic.

First half

Nothing much happened in the first twenty minutes as the Biancocelesti were struggling to be dangerous against a well organised Udinese who pressed them like crazy not allowing the players to think, which de facto is the key to put Lazio in difficulty.

The Bianconeri had been potentially dangerous but not concrete until the 22nd minute. Lorenzo Lucca from the left gave a splendid ball in the middle to Florian Thauvin who dribbled past Alessio Romagnoli, Ivan Provedel came out of his goal and blocked him, the Frenchman tried a shot anyway which was deflected into the air by Manuel Lazzari but towards Lucca. The Italian young forward tried a bicycle kick which became a perfect assist for Thauvin, Lazio 0 Udinese 1.

Lazio were forced to react and they did so. Long pass from behind by Romagnoli towards Mattia Zaccagni, Thomas Kristensen did not control the ball, the Biancoceleste captain in the box on the left sent a low shot which Maduka Okoye miraculously parried into corner. A great save. From the corner, Gustav Isaksen crossed, Vecino headed the ball towards the far post, in came Romagnoli and it was 1-1.

After a Loum Tchaouna shot in the 37th minute saved by the keeper, Udinese had a chance towards the end of the first half. A Lucca volley off a Kristensen cross went very close to the post.

Second half

In the interval Baroni substituted Tchaouna with Tijani Noslin and it was the Dutchman in the 48th minute who crossed from the right, Hassene Kamara anticipated Zaccagni just as he was about to deposit the ball in the net. It looked like a penalty because the defender hit both ball and leg, but as usual in these circumstances the Lazio opponent got the benefit of the doubt.

In the 65th minute five more substitutions: Reda Belahyane and Pedro for Vecino and Boulaye Dia for Lazio whereas for Udinese Jordan Zemura, Arthur Atta and Martin Payero came on for Kamara, Sandi Lovric and Jurgen Ekkelenkamp.

Three minutes later Noslin tried a shot which was comfortably saved by the keeper and in the 76th minute Zemura on a free kick forced Provedel to parry into corner. From the latter, Atta-Jesper Karlstrom one-two, the Frenchman alone in front of Provedel tried a shot but it was walled by Adam Marusic.

A few more substitutions: Keinan Davis for Thauvin, Rui Modesto for Kingsley Ehizibue and Patric for Isaksen.

Nothing else happened. Lazio in physical difficulty could do no more.

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Marusic, Guendouzi, Vecino (64' Belahyane), Isaksen (81' Patric), Dia (64' Pedro), Zaccagni, Tchaouna (46' Noslin)

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Gigot, Dele-Bashiru, Provstgaard, Basic, Ibrahimovic, Rovella

Manager: Baroni

Who played for Udinese

Okoye, Kristensen, Bijol, Solet, Kamara (65' Zemura), Ehizibue (89' Rui Modesto), Karlstrom, Lovric (65' Atta), Ekkelenkamp (65' Payero), Thauvin (81' Davis), Lucca

Substitutes: Piana, Padelli, Zarraga, Sanchez, Pafundi, Bravo, Kabasele, Giannetti, Pizarro

Manager: Runjaic

Referee: Piccinini

Goals: 22’ Thauvin, 32’ Romagnoli

Booked: Kamara (U), Vecino (L), Lovric (U), Lazzari (L), Payero (U), Karlstrom (U)