Game 16, Serie A
Sunday, December 5, Genoa
Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Sampdoria Lazio 1-3
A devastating first 45-minute attacking display by Lazio put the game out of Sampdoria's reach in the first half.
Lazio had some problems adapting to the new tactical vision of Maurizio Sarri and big victories (Roma and Inter) were balanced by defeats (Juventus, Napoli and Milan) plus heavy unexpected collapses (Bologna and Verona). Lazio were on 22 points, already well off the front-runners.
The match
A 6 o'clock start on a dark December evening, the game was played in front of a fairly sparse crowd by two teams having difficulty in finding any consistency. It was Lazio however who came out with a more positive and attacking approach and they took the lead after only 7 minutes. A flowing move and a precise pass across the area by Mattia Zaccagni put Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in an ideal position to drive a powerful low left-footed strike past keeper Audero.
The second goal came just 10 minutes later and was classic opportunism and quick thinking by Ciro Immobile. Zaccagni tried to dribble his way into the area but fell to the ground just outside and, while everyone was wondering whether he had been tripped, the ball trickled through to Immobile who stabbed the ball past Emil Audero.
Lazio were 2-0 up but showed no intention of taking their foot off the pedal. Immobile almost made it 3-0 with a header well saved by Audero but didn't have to wait long for his brace. Again an excellent move by Lazio with Milinkovic-Savic putting a through ball into the box which Immobile let float past the defender before hammering a right foot into the opposite corner. After only 37 minutes the game was virtually already won.
The second half did inevitably see Sampdoria push forward more with some attacking spirit. The Norwegian midfielder Morten Thorsby came close with a good effort saved by Thomas Strakosha and Sampdoria had several headers just off target.
The game was made slightly more complicated for Lazio in the 67th minute when Milinkovic-Savic was sent off for a fairly run of the mill foul punished with a yellow card, but it was followed by a red for unnecessary dissent. The match was definitely one-way traffic from then on, but luckily for Lazio the hosts did not get on the score sheet until the 89th minute with Manolo Gabbiadini. It was too little too late, although they did almost get a second in injury time, again with Gabbiadini, whose shot was well stopped by Strakosha.
A good away win for Lazio all thanks to those sparkling first 45 minutes. The second half was more of defensive tactics and suffering but the game had practically been won, so a less audacious approach was perhaps understandable.
Who played for Sampdoria
Audero, Bereszynski (67' Yoshida), Ferrari (46' Dragusin), Chabot, Augello, Candreva (85' Ciervo), Ekdal, Thorsby, Verre (46' Silva), Gabbiadini, Quagliarella (46' Caputo)
Substitutes: Falcone, Ravaglia, De Paoli, Murru, Askildsen, Trimboli, Yepes
Manager: D'Aversa.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Hysaj, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (64' Leiva), Basic, Pedro (64' Felipe Anderson), Immobile (46' Muriqi), Zaccagni (78' Lazzari).
Substitutes: Reina, Adamonis, Radu, Vavro, Akpa Akpro, Escalante, Luis Alberto, Moro
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Fabbri
Goals: 7' Milinkovic-Savic, 17' Immobile, 37' Immobile, 89' Gabbiadini
Sources
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