Game 6, Serie A
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Rome, Stadio Olimpico
Lazio-Verona 2-0
Immobile and Luis Alberto give Lazio three points in an extremely complicated game against Verona
Maurizio Sarri made a few changes compared to previous games. Marcos Antonio started instead of Danilo Cataldi who got a one-game suspension due to blasphemy, just one final added bonus from the Lazio-Napoli game. Due to this decision Luis Alberto was on the bench. Sarri thought that a midfield made up of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Marcos Antonio and Luis Alberto was a bit too lightweight, at least for the moment. Also, in the team today was Nicolò Casale as Alessio Romagnoli was not 100%. Just one change for Verona: Federico Ceccherini took Pawel Dawidowicz' place in defence.
Both teams were very cautious. The previous year, Verona's man-to-man marking had given them a lot of headaches, so today Lazio started rather cautiously, similar to how they played against Torino. Presumably Sarri thought that at a certain point Verona would inevitably tire so there was no need to give them any unnecessary chances.
The first scoring opportunity for Lazio came in the 19th minute when Felipe Anderson tried to dribble the entire Verona defence only to kick the ball way too high once in front of the goal. Immediately after, Kevin Lasagna flew past the Lazio defenders but his shot went wide.
The biggest opportunity for Lazio came in the 27th minute. Mattia Zaccagni to Ciro Immobile who set up Toma Basic for the shot. His whack was deflected onto the woodwork by Lorenzo Montipò.
Four minutes later Ivan Provedel cleared his penalty box only to pass the ball to Filippo Terracciano just over the halfway line. His lob did not even go near the goal. Verona lost Miguel Veloso in the 36th minute due to injury. He was substituted by Adrien Tameze.
Another chance for Lazio in the 42nd minute. Manuel Lazzari charged down the centre right again and went into the penalty box. Instead of passing the ball to his expectant teammates, he shot … wide.
In the second minute of injury time, an Ivan Ilic corner reached Thomas Henry. His shot bounced off the top of the cross bar.
After nine minutes of the second half, Sarri decided it was time for Luis Alberto. Basic was the sacrificial lamb. In the 60th minute another two changes for Verona: Ceccherini and Terracciano were substituted by Juan David Cabal and Fabio Depaoli. Five minutes later Lazio made another two changes: Felipe Anderson and Marcos Antonio were substituted by Matteo Cancellieri and Matias Vecino.
Luis Alberto had a chance to put Lazio in the lead in the 65th minute. Milinkovic-Savic passed the ball to the Spaniard who had to take a few strides to reach it, just outside of the penalty box near the byline. Ball to Adam Marusic who, with his back to the goal, passed it to Immobile. Ball back to Luis Alberto who in the meantime had sneaked into the box but the shot was wide.
Verona were pulling back a little and Lazio started to threaten. In the 68th minute Milinkovic-Savic put a perfect cross into the penalty box from the right. Montipò stayed put and Immobile, on the far left, beat Isak Hien and headed the ball in. 1-0 for Lazio.
Verona made the last two changes: in came Ajdin Hrustic and Yaya Kallon substituting Darko Lazovic and Lasagna. Lazzari suffered an injury in the 75th minute and Elseid Hysaj took his place as right back.
Verona tried to equalise but it was Lazio who had a couple more chances. In the 78th minute Immobile got away from his marker but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper who then was quicker than Ciro to snatch the rebound from his feet. Montipò saved again from a Cancellieri shot five minutes later.
In the first minute of injury time Verona almost equalised. Henry dispossessed Hysaj and crossed to Ilic. He had the time and the gap to put the ball past Provedel but his shot was too central and the Lazio goalkeeper saved. Four minutes later Lazio made it two. Zaccagni got hold of a loose ball and moved to the far left at the top of the penalty box. Ball to Luis Alberto just outside who shot. 2-0 for Lazio. Game over.
Lazio perhaps did not play especially well, but they showed maturity and patience. They had a game plan and stuck to it.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Lazzari (75' Hysaj), Patric, Casale, Marusic; Basic (55' Luis Alberto), Marcos Antonio (65' Vecino), Milinkovic-Savic, Felipe Anderson (65' Cancellieri), Immobile, Zaccagni
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Verona
Montipò, Ceccherini (61' Cabal), Hien, Coppola, Terracciano (61' De Paoli), Ilic, Veloso (36' Tameze), Doig, Lazovic (70' Hrustic), Lasagna (70' Kallon), Henry
Substitutes: Berardi, Perilli, Faraoni, Verdi, Hongla, Djuric, Piccoli, Gunter, Dawidowicz, Cortinovis
Manager: Cioffi
Referee: Irrati
Goals: 69 Immobile, 90'+5' Luis Alberto
Bookings: Veloso, Ceccherini, Coppola, Cabal, Luis Alberto, Hien, Hysaj.
Comments