2022-23 Season
Game 18
January 15, 2023
Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia
Sassuolo Lazio 0-2
Lazio manage to beat Sassuolo in a fundamental game for their ambitions. Immobile injured again.
The teams
Maurizio Sarri makes just one change compared to the previous week substituting Manuel Lazzari, suspended, with Eliseid Hysaj. Ciro Immobile has had a few problems during the week but is ready to play. Lazio, one point in the last three games, desperately need these three points if they are to maintain Champions League ambitions.
The match
Sassuolo lead off the dance with a chance in the 2nd minute. Armand Laurientè receives the ball just inside the penalty box on the far left, moves towards the centre and shoots. Ball is deflected off Danilo Cataldi into corner.
In the fifth minute Cataldi to Mattia Zaccagni on the left just outside the box. His shot is saved by Gianluca Pegolo and Felipe Anderson’s tap in attempt goes sky high.
In the 15th minute Immobile has to be substituted due to injury. In comes Pedro.
Nothing of any significance happens until the final minutes of the first half. In the 43rd minute Laurientè’s shot is well saved by Ivan Provedel, the ball in some way gets to Davide Frattesi who shoots but Provedel saves again.
A minute later Pedro has a chance but his shot is parried by Martin Erlic. Luis Alberto takes the consequent corner, ball to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on the far post who heads the ball towards the goal, Jeremy Toljan has his arms in the air and saves, but it is handball and penalty. Zaccagni takes the spot kick and it's 1-0 for Lazio.
In the second half the match is very open but despite the fact that it’s Sassuolo who have the greater percentage of possession, Lazio are the more dangerous team. In the 60th minute Milinkovic-Savic in the box on the right sends the ball to the centre, Felipe Anderson again shoots way too high. Five minutes later Zaccagni to Luis Alberto on the left. The Spaniard sees his fellow countryman Pedro running towards the centre of the box, ball to him but the former Barcelona player shoots wide.
And Sassuolo? The only substantial chance they have is in the 76th minute. Domenico Berardi takes a corner, Frattesi has a colossal chance but he heads the ball over the crossbar.
In the 84th minute Adam Marusic has a chance but his shot is just wide. Sassuolo increase pressure on the Lazio defence but unlike the previous games, the Biancocelesti are in total control.
In the fourth minute of injury time, Provedel sends the ball over the halfway line to Milinkovic-Savic. The Serb’s header goes towards the edge of the box, Ruan Tressoldi falls asleep and allows Felipe Anderson to anticipate him. The Brazilian runs off and once inside the box dribbles Pegolo and deposits the ball in the net. 2-0 for Lazio and game over.
Good win for the Biancocelesti. Fingers crossed for Immobile.
Who played for Sassuolo
Pegolo, Toljan, Erlic (85' Ferrari), Tressoldi, Rogerio, Frattesi, Obiang (54' Lopez), Traoré (69' Thorstvedt), Berardi, Alvarez (54' Defrel), Laurienté (69' Ceide).
Substitutes: Zacchi, Russo, Muldur, Marchizza, Kyriakopoulos, Ayhan, Henrique, Harroui, Lopez, Ceide, Antiste.
Manager: Dionisi
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Hysaj, Casale (89' Patric), Romagnoli, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (79' Vecino), Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson, Immobile (15' Pedro), Zaccagni.
Substitutes: Maximiano, Adamonis, Radu, Fares, Marcos Antonio, Basic, Cancellieri, Romero.
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Pairetto
Goals: 45'+3' Zaccagni (pen), 90'+4' Felipe Anderson
Bookings: Casale, Toljan, Cataldi, Tressoldi, Rogerio, Hysaj , Erlic.
Comments