Game 25, Serie A
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio-Verona 5-2
A big score line hides several problematic moments
Lazio had won the first game 2-1 at home to Bologna but then been thrashed by Chievo 0-4 and had never found much consistency. Since then, the Biancocelesti had won 8 (including Verona, Inter both 2-1 and Fiorentina 3-1, all away), drawn 6 and lost 8 (including Napoli 0-5 away and derby). Lazio were currently 9th on 33 points.
Lazio were strong favourites today. A must win game against opponents who already looked like goners from Serie A but had not lost for five games while Lazio had not scored for three.
The match
A Thursday evening game due to the upcoming Italy vs England Six Nations rugby game. The stadium was a depressing sight, less than 10,000 spectators also due to the Curva Nord and Distinti being closed due to punishment for racist chants against Napoli defender Koulibaly. A chronic problem caused by a minority which affected the majority.
Lazio were without defenders Dušan Basta and Stefan Radu plus midfielder Marco Parolo. They also had long term injuries Stefan de Vrij and Santiago Gentiletti out.
Verona could not choose from defenders Eros Pisano, Samuel Souprayen or forward Luca Siligardi.
The first half, apart from the low temperature, looked more like a summer friendly. The rhythm was slow and Verona controlled Lazio's lacklustre attacks with ease. The Biancocelesti had a Felipe Anderson shot go just wide, Alessandro Matri arrived a fraction late on a Stefano Mauri assist and Senad Lulic had a central shot parried by Gianluigi Gollini. More was needed and expected.
It was in fact the visitors who went closer with headers by Giampiero Pazzini, which Federico Marchetti did extremely well to keep out, and Luca Toni wide from a Pawel Wszolek cross.
Just before the interval however, Lazio suddenly seemed to realise they had to accelerate if they wanted to get anything from the game. The goal soon came and just before the break.
In the 45th minute Danilo Cataldi dispossessed Ionita and set up Matri who stretched and with his left foot beat Gollini on the far post. Halftime Lazio 1 Verona 0.
The stats sum up the half; Lazio had 66% possession and 10 shots but only 3 on target. At least they had finally scored after 315 minutes.
In the second half Lazio continued in the livelier end of half mode. In the 50th minute they scored again. Lulic put in a long through ball which found Cataldi and the Roman born midfielder pulled it back for the incoming Mauri whose precise left foot beat Gollini. Lazio 2 Verona 0.
At this point the Gialloblu made two changes; Romulo for Mohamed Fares and Gilberto for Boško Janković.
Lazio almost let the Scaligeri straight back in it when Wesley Hoedt hit his own crossbar risking an own goal.
In the 69th minute however, Felipe Anderson appeared to have put the game to bed. Matri from the left squared into the middle, cutting out the keeper, where Anderson walked it in. Lazio 3 Verona 0.
Verona now tried the Juanito Gómez card, bringing on the more agile Papu for the more physical Pazzini.
Three minutes later Verona got what seemed like a consolation goal. In the 72nd minute, former Roma, Leandro Greco struck a great freekick into the top left-hand corner. Lazio 3 Verona 1.
Lazio then made their first substitution and on came Balde Keita for Mauri.
In the 79th minute the game was definitely reopened when Luca Toni was lost by Hoedt and coordinated himself to turn in a Greco low cross. Lazio 3 Verona 2. Lazio suddenly went into panic mode.
Lazio now replaced Matri with Miroslav Klose but it was Keita who saved their blushes. In the 82nd minute the Senegalese-Spanish forward restored Lazio’s two goal lead. A misunderstanding between Greco and Romulo allowed Klose to charge forward, he then crossed perfectly for Keita who brilliantly volleyed in from just inside the box. Lazio 4 Verona 2.
In the 85th minute and the game again under control Lazio made their last change with Antonio Candreva coming on for Felipe Anderson.
The game was won but there was time for another goal. In the 90th minute Lulic was fouled in the area and Candreva blasted in the penalty low to Gollini's right. Lazio 5 Verona 2 and final score.
A strange game. Soporific for 45 minutes, then first easy, then complicated for Lazio but ultimately won with a deceivingly comfortable score line.
A positive result for the Biancocelesti but their problems were far from being resolved.
Lazio moved up to 7th on 36 points while Verona were now 10 points from safety (Sampdoria and Genoa on 25).
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti, Konko, Mauricio, Hoedt, Lulic, Cataldi, Biglia, Milinkovic-Savic, F. Anderson (85' Candreva), Matri (80' Klose), Mauri (73' Keita)
Manager: Pioli
Who played for Verona
Gollini, Pisano, Moras, Helander, Fares (51' Romulo), Jankovic (51' Gilberto), Ionita, Greco, Wszolek, Toni, Pazzini (70' Gomez)
Substitutes: Coppola, Marcone, Bianchetti, Samir, Checchin, Furman, Emanuelson
Manager: Delneri
Referee: Gervasoni
Goals: 45' Matri, 50' Mauri, 69' F.Anderson. 72' Greco, 79' Toni, 82' Keita, 90' Candreva (pen)
Sources
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