First points thanks to Luis Alberto
A Luis Alberto goal gives Lazio their first win of the season
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had been heavily penalised by the introduction of the VAR. The referees took it in turns to not use it when Lazio played or to use it in the wrong way. But Lazio had played well and, as usual, just missed out of Champions League qualification, arriving fifth, losing the decisive match at home against Inter.
The star signings of the summer were Francesco Acerbi, who took the vacant place in the centre of defence left by Stefan De Vrij who had gone to Inter as a free agent refusing to sign a new contract for Lazio, and Joaquin Correa, exciting Argentinian player from Sevilla, who substituted Felipe Anderson sold to West Ham United. Other signings included Riza Durmisi (Betis), Valon Berisha (Salzburg), free agents Silvio Proto and Milan Badelj plus the return of Danilo Cataldi from his loan at Benevento. Also leaving were Davide Di Gennaro (loan to Salernitana), Ivan Vargic (loan, Anorthosis), Nani (end of loan, Valencia), Filip Djordjevic (end of contract) and Luca Crecco (Pescara)
Lazio had started badly, losing the first two games to Napoli at home and Juventus away. Today’s game was more approachable and a win was fundamental.
The match: Sunday, September 2, 2018, Stadio Olimipico, Rome
Lazio started well. Free kick for Lazio in the 4th minute on the left taken by Luis Alberto. Marco Parolo headed over to the far post, Francesco Acerbi with another header crossed, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic tapped it in, but offside.
In the 18th minute Senad Lulic from the left crossed inside the box, Parolo all alone headed the ball for a certain goal but hit the woodwork. In the 25th minute, Stefan Radu to Milinkovic-Savic on the left just outside the area, one-two with Ciro Immobile, the Serb controlled the ball and once in front of the goalkeeper put it wide. If one thought that miss was bad, the next in the 33rd minute was a lot worse. Milinkovic-Savic to Lulic in the box again on the left, low cross in the middle, Immobile all alone on the right with almost an open goal, out. In the 42nd minute, Lulic on the left, ball to Milinkovic-Savic just outside the area but central, curling shot, just wide. In the 45th minute Luis Alberto to Immobile in the box, on the left, all alone in front of Marco Sportiello who narrowed the angle well and Ciro could not get the ball past him.
A Lazio monologue occasionally interrupted by some Frosinone counter-attacks which were not all that dangerous.
In the second half the Biancocelesti continued from where they left off and finally managed to get the ball in the goal. In the 49th minute, Wallace to Luis Alberto and then Milinkovic-Savic to Lulic on the left. The Bosnian crossed into the box, Luis Alberto headed the ball in the air, Immobile tried to shoot but the Frosinone defence cleared. In came Lulic on the left who shot at goal, Cristian Molinaro walled but the ball arrived to Luis Alberto who, with a low shot, finally got Lazio ahead.
In the 59th minute Sportiello parried a big whack from Milinkovic-Savic. In the 64th, corner for Lazio. Luis Alberto crossed on the front post for Parolo whose header was a perfect pass for Acerbi. The big defender tried to make decent contact but the ball went high.
The match at this point slowed down, the Biancocelesti in control. Frosinone tried to create chances but were never dangerous. 1-0 for Lazio, first win of the season.
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Wallace, Acerbi, Radu, Marusic, Parolo, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic (82’ Murgia), Lulic, Luis Alberto (90’ Badelj), Immobile (85’ Caicedo)
Manager: Inzaghi
Who played for Frosinone
Sportiello, Brighenti, Salamon, Capuano, Zampano (71' Ghiglione), Chibsah, Maiello, Cassata (81' Soddimo), Molinaro, Ciano, Perica (71' Ardaiz)
Substitutes: Bardi, Ariaudo, Goldaniga, Beghetto, Krajnc, Crisetig, Besea, Matarese, Pinamonti
Manager: Longo.
Referee: Calvarese
Goal: 49’ Luis Alberto
What happened next
Lazio won the next three only to lose the derby, in probably the worst game ever under Simone Inzaghi. Unable to come to terms with the bigger teams, Lazio also occasionally struggled with the smaller ones. The star players such as Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were not playing up to par. They tried to keep the Champions League qualification dream alive as long as possible, but surprise losses against Genoa and Spal away, plus the disastrous defeat at home against an already relegated Chievo, lessened the impact of great wins in the derby and away against Inter. Lazio effectively gave up after the home defeat against Atalanta with three matches still to go.
In Europa League Lazio came second in their group behind Eintracht Frankfurt but were knocked out in the Round of 32 by Sevilla, also due to being denied an obvious penalty, which could have been a game changer, in the return match. VAR was yet to be introduced for the European trophy.
But there was glory.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio first eliminated Novara in January and then faced Inter in Milan for the single-legged quarter-finals. Immobile put Lazio in the lead in the first half of extra time, but a ridiculous penalty was awarded to Inter in the second minute of injury time of the second half. The penalty shootout went Lazio’s way and Lazio had to face Milan in the semi-final. A second half goal from Correa in the second away leg was the passport for the final at the Stadio Olimpico against Atalanta.
The final was won by Lazio with goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Correa in the second half. Hence, Lazio qualified for the 2019-‘20 Europa League and the Super Coppa.
Francesco Acerbi was the player with most appearances (50 in all competitions), Ciro Immobile the top scorer (19).
Lazio 2018-19
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 38 | 17 | 8 | 13 | 56 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 3 | 2 | - | 8 |
Europa League | 8 | 3 | - | 5 | 9 |
Total | 51 | 23 | 10 | 18 | 73 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
Acerbi | 50 | 37 | 5 | 8 |
Immobile | 46 | 36 | 5 | 5 |
Lulic | 46 | 35 | 4 | 7 |
Correa | 44 | 34 | 4 | 6 |
Strakosha | 44 | 35 | 5 | 4 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League |
Immobile | 19 | 15 | 3 | 1 |
Correa | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Caicedo | 9 | 8 | - | 1 |
Milinkovic-Savic | 7 | 5 | 2 | - |
Parolo | 6 | 4 | - | 2 |
Luis Alberto | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Let’s talk about Wallace
Wallace Fortuna dos Santos, better known as just Wallace, was born in Rio de Janeiro on October 14, 1994. He started his footballing career with Cruzeiro and debuted professionally in a Copa do Brasil match against Atletico Goianiense. That year he also played in the Campeonato Mineiro which Cruzeiro won.
On July 1, 2014, after just 8 games with Cruzeiro he signed for Braga in Portugal. With the GestiFute company as his agent, he was immediately loaned to Monaco. In two years he appeared in 56 games (two goals). In the summer of 2016 he joined Lazio.
His first year was very good and he was an excellent defender, with 30 appearances and one goal. He was very highly considered and a fan favourite despite making a serious mistake in the derby which de facto allowed Roma to win. In his second year the mistakes increased. At times it looked as if he lost his concentration. He was no longer a first choice player and when he did play an error was always around the corner. Ultimately he stayed for three years, not playing very often in the last two. On September 3 2019 he was loaned to Braga for a year but he appeared in only 16 games. A year later he moved to Turkey and started playing for Yeni Malatyaspor. In January 2022 the contract was ended and he joined Wuhan Three Towns in the Chinese league.
At international level he played a few games with the Brazilian Under 20 team as well as the Under-21’s and Under-23’s.
At Lazio he appeared 67 times (54 in Serie A with one goal, 7 in Coppa Italia, 5 in Europa League with one goal and once in the Super Coppa). He won a Super Coppa and a Coppa Italia but after initially showing quality he got worse and worse and is by no means missed.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Europa League | Super Coppa |
2016-17 | 30 (1) | 25 (1) | 5 | - | - |
2017-18 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
2018-19 | 20 (1) | 16 | 1 | 3 (1) | - |
Total | 67 (2) | 54 (1) | 7 | 5 (1) | 1 |
Sources
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