Mission accomplished

Season 2024-25

Round of 16, Europa League, Second Leg

Thursday, March 13, 2025

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Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Viktoria Plzen 1-1

Lazio draw with Viktoria Plzen and go through to the Europa League quarter finals

Official SS Lazio photo

The team

Without Nicolò Rovella and Samuel Gigot, sent off in the away leg, Marco Baroni finally had Taty Castellanos ready to play and also was able to put Nuno Tavares in, seemingly recovered from his injury.

Lazio needed to at least draw to reach the quarter finals after having won in Plzeň.

First half

Viktoria Plzen had given Lazio a tough time in the first leg so fans knew it would not be an easy match. But after just a couple of minutes it could have all changed. Samson Dweh recklessly tackled Mattia Zaccagni and got a yellow card. But it should have been red, much worse than what Gigot had done the previous week. Yet another weird referee and VAR decision in Lazio’s European games.

In the 5th minute Lukas Kalvach with a volley could have levelled the tie for Plzen but a marvellous save from Ivan Provedel denied him the goal. The visitors had another chance in the 12th minute when after a backward pass from Patric to Provedel, the Lazio keeper inadvertently passed to Matej Vydra who tried a shot which hit the top of the crossbar.

In the 21st minute a Pedro shot after a Gustav Isaksen foray in the box forced Martin Jedlicka to parry into corner. Two minutes later Castellanos tried a shot from a favourable position but slipped at the last second and the ball went high.

The game was not particularly exciting as Lazio had trouble creating anything dangerous and Plzen defended well and were always potentially dangerous on the counter attack.

Second half

Lazio started well and Pedro had a chance in the 49th minute when he dispossessed a defender and raced into the box. From an impossible angle he tried a shot, Jedlicka saved.

Three minutes later the Czechs went ahead. Kalvach crossed into the box, Rafiu Durosinmi passed back to Pavel Sulc, splendid shot, 0-1.

The score now meant that extra time was a possibility, something Lazio had to avoid at all costs seeing their poor state of fitness.

Baroni sent in Boulaye Dia and Manuel Lazzari in place of Castellanos and Nuno Tavares and shortly after Prince Kwabena Adu came on for Durosinmi. The Biancocelesti tried a forcing which however did not create anything really dangerous. In the 75th minute Zaccagni crossed from the left, Alessio Romagnoli headed towards the far post, Dia was only a fraction late.

In the 77th minute, corner for Lazio. Zaccagni crossed into the box, Romagnoli headed the ball towards the goal, Jedlicka managed to parry but it had already crossed the line. Lazio 1 Viktoria Plzen 1. Third consecutive goal from the Lazio central defender.

Further substitutions followed: Merchas Doski, Alexandr Sojka and later Jiri Panos and Jan Kopic for Cadu, Matej Vydra, Kalvach and Amar Memic for the Czechs, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Mario Gila for Pedro and Patric.

Nothing else happened. Lazio through to the quarter finals where they will play against Bodø Glimt in April.

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Marusic, Patric (79' Gila), Romagnoli, Nuno Tavares (67' Lazzari), Vecino, Guendouzi, Isaksen, Pedro (79' Dele-Bashiru), Zaccagni; Castellanos (67' Dia)

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Noslin, Tchaouna

Manager: Baroni

Who played for Viktoria Plzen

Jedlicka, Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka, Cadu (78' Doski), Sulc, Kalvach (86' Panos), Cerv, Vydra (78' Sojka), Durosinmi (72' Adu), Memic (86' Kopic)

Substitutes: Hejda, Tvrdon, Valenta, Paluska, Baier

Manager: Koubek.

Referee: Makkelie (Netherlands)

Goals: 52’ Sulc, 77’ Romagnoli

Booked: Dweh (P), Marusic (L), Durosinmi (P), Vecino (L)