The Laziali
·19 January 2025
The Laziali
·19 January 2025
Lazio made short work of their hosts Hellas Verona, beating them by three unanswered goals at the Bentegodi Stadium.
On his return to his old ground, Biancocelesti coach Marco Baroni was once again able to rely on Taty Castellanos who led the line as well as Mattia Zaccagni who joined Boulaye Dia and Gustav Isaksen in the supporting crew, while Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Guendouzi formed the double pivot. Elseid Hysaj made his first Serie A start of the season.
It only took the visitors 90 seconds to break the deadlock, when Zaccagni’s corner kick was sent towards the back post by the towering header of Samuel Gigot. The Gialloblu pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but they were caught on the counter when Guendouzi picked up Dia’s run.
The Senegalese drove the ball to the box, and while he had Isasken in support, he selfishly aimed for the goal himself, but it proved to be the right call. Although it was a tame effort, Lorenzo Montipo’s touch wasn’t enough to deny it, thus handing Lazio a two-goal cushion after 20 minutes.
To their credit, Verona had their chances between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second, but Zaccagni put the match to bed once and for all by scoring the Aquile’s third.
Dia pounced on an abysmal backpass from Jackson Tchatchoua, and despite finding himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, he went for the selfless act this time, laying the ball in his captain’s path, albeit it left the latter with much to do. Nevertheless, Zaccagni’s deflected shot wrongfooted Montipo, and his goal warranted an apology for his old supporters.
Towards the end of the match, Ondrej Duda received his marching orders for a second yellow, but the result remained unchanged. Lazio thus returned to the capital with three goals and as many points in the bag, restoring their fourth place in the table.
Goals: 2′ Gigot (L), 21′ Dia (L), 58′ Zaccagni (L).
Verona (3-4-1-2): Montipò; Dawidowicz (46′ Livramento), Coppola, Ghilardi; Tchatchoua (72′ Faraoni), Serdar, Duda, Bradaric; Suslov (64′ Kastanos); Sarr (72′ Belahyane), Tengstedt (64′ Lazovic).
Lazio (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Hysaj, Gigot (65′ Romagnoli), Gila, Tavares (72′ Pellegrini); Guendouzi, Rovella (84′ Castrovilli); Isaksen (65′ Pedro), Dia, Zaccagni (65′ Dele-Bashiru); Castellanos..
Referee: Fabbri from Ravenna
Yellow cards: Gigot (L), Dawidowicz (V), Coppola (V), Bradaric (V), Tavares (L), Ghilardi (V), Duda (V).
Red card: Duda (V).