Game 1, Serie A
Sunday, August 18, 2024
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Venezia 3-1
Lazio come from behind and take their first three points of the season.
The team
Marco Baroni’s first official game leading Lazio and first decisions on who to play. Since Mario Gila was injured and Patric, Nuno Tavares and Luca Pellegrini not 100% fit, he decided to put Manuel Lazzari as right back, Adam Marusic on the other wing, and opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mattia Zaccagni, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Tijani Noslin behind Taty Castellanos.
First half
After three minutes the Biancocelesti were already behind. From a Marin Sverko throw in, Nicolò Rovella lost the ball in the box on the left near the byline, Mikael Ellertsson passed the ball back to Magnus Andersen just inside the penalty area. Beautiful curling shot that Ivan Provedel could do nothing about.
A bad start for Lazio who seemed slightly in shock. But seven minutes later the Biancocelesti equalised. Michael Svoboda, in front of his box, was challenged by Castellanos who dispossessed the Dane and in front of Jesse Joronen did not miss. Lazio 1 Venezia 1.
The Biancocelesti took control of the game and in the 16th minute Marusic crossed in the box from the left, Castellanos tried a header which was saved by the keeper.
Noslin slowly got into the match with Lazzari giving him a good hand on the right, Dele-Bashiru started to physically prove his worth and the Biancocelesti shrugged off the initial difficulties. In the 41st minute Noslin made a perfect cross for Taty but his header went just out. Three minutes later penalty for Lazio. Noslin from the right sent a good low cross into the penalty area, Castellanos got to the ball before Marin Sverko who fouled him. Zaccagni took the spot kick and the Biancocelesti closed the first half ahead.
Second half
For the first 15 minutes it looked as if Lazio were going to score their third every time they got the ball. In the 52nd minute a Nicolò Casale header after a corner was saved by Joronen. In the 55th minute Dele-Bashiru to Castellanos on the edge of the box. He tried a shot which was deflected by Giorgio Altare, Joronen managed to tip it onto the crossbar.
In the 54th minute Nicholas Pierini and Ridgeciano Haps came on for Gaetano Oristanio and Richie Sagrado.
The Biancocelesti started to tire and Venezia began to take control of the match. In the 57th minute Haps for Ellertsson who shot wide. The Icelandic international was then substituted by Domen Crnigoy and Barone replaced Rovella with Matias Vecino, Noslin with Gustav Isaksen and Loum Tchaouna for Zaccagni.
Haps had a chance in the 79th minute but from a favourable position did not surprise Provedel.
In the 81st minute Lazio closed the game. Matteo Guendouzi with the corner of his eye saw Lazzari running towards the box, ball to him, low cross in the middle but before Tchaouna could tap it in, Altare got there first only to send the ball into his own net.
In the 85th minute Castellanos received the ball from Tchaouna on a counter attack, he controlled it, looked up, and sent a great curling shot towards the goal but it hit the post
Final substitutions: Baroni sent in Pedro for Castellanos and Gaetano Castrovilli for Guendouzi, Eusebio Di Francesco threw in Nunzio Lella and Antonio Raimondo for Andersen and Christian Gytkjaer.
In the third minute of injury time, Pierini took a corner, Altare headed the ball which was deflected towards the far post by Alessio Romagnoli, Provedel made a spectacular save.
That was it, Lazio got their first three points.
Considerations from inside the Olimpico
Expected a strong “demonstration of affection” towards President Claudio Lotito, but it was not too different from other times.
Lazio looked more like a team, quicker, more aggressive, with more ideas compared to last year.
We were almost smoked to death by the vaping in front of us, but survived, just about!!!!
Referee embarrassing at times, twice interrupting a possible Lazio chance. Thought they had to wait to the end of the play before whistling fouls?
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic, Guendouzi (87' Castrovilli), Rovella (65' Vecino), Dele-Bashiru, Noslin (76' Isaksen), Castellanos (87' Pedro), Zaccagni (76' Tchaouna)
Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Pellegrini, Patric, Dia, Hysaj, Nuno Tavares, Cataldi
Manager: Baroni
Who played for Venezia
Joronen, Zampano, Gytkjaer (85' Raimondo), Oristanio (53' Pierini), Altare, Sagrado (53' Haps), Svoboda, Duncan, Sverko, Andersen (85' Lella), Ellertsson (70' Crnigoj)
Substitutes: Grandi, Stankovic, Lucchesi, Doumbia
Manager: Di Francesco.
Referee: Tremolada
Goals: 4’ Andersen, 11’ Castellanos, 44’ Zaccagni (pen), 81’ Altare (aut.)
Booked: Sagrado (V), Castellanos (L), Noslin (L)
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