August 18, 2024: Lazio Venezia 3-1

Simon Basten
1 day ago
6 min read

Promising

Lazio come from behind and take their first three points of the season.

The season so far

The previous season had been a troubled one. Lazio did not perform as well as in the previous one and there were a lot of problems. Manager Maurizio Sarri resigned in March and after a single game with his assistant Giovanni Martusciello on the bench, Igor Tudor took over and led the Biancocelesti to a Europa League qualification

This season there were already lots of comings and goings. The new players arriving were midfielder Fisayo Dele Bashiru (Hatayspor), forwards Tijani Noslin (Verona), Boulaye Dia and Loum Tchaouna (Salernitana) plus defender Nuno Tavares (Arsenal on loan with an obligation to buy). Leaving Lazio were legends Luis Alberto (Al-Duhail Sports Club), Felipe Anderson (end of contract) and Ciro Immobile (Besiktas) plus Luigi Sepe (end of loan), Matteo Cancellieri (Parma on loan), Sana Fernandes (NAC Breda on loan) and Mohamed Fares (Panserraïkos on loan).

Lazio also had a new manager, Marco Baroni, the previous year at Verona.

The Biancocelesti had been in their pre-season training at Auronzo di Cadore and were now preparing for the start of Serie A. They had played seven friendlies, beating Auronzo, Trapani, Hansa Rostock, Frosinone and Cádiz and drawn with Triestina and Southampton.

Today was the first official game of the season

The match: Sunday, August 18, 2024, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Marco Baroni’s first official game leading Lazio and first decisions on who to play. Since Mario Gila was injured and Patric, Nuno Tavares and Luca Pellegrini not 100% fit, he decided to put Manuel Lazzari as right back, Adam Marusic on the other wing, and opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Mattia Zaccagni, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Tijani Noslin behind Taty Castellanos.

After three minutes the Biancocelesti were already behind. From a Marin Sverko throw in, Nicolò Rovella lost the ball in the box on the left near the byline, Mikael Ellertsson passed the ball back to Magnus Andersen just inside the penalty area. Beautiful curling shot that Ivan Provedel could do nothing about.

A bad start for Lazio who seemed slightly in shock. But seven minutes later the Biancocelesti equalised. Michael Svoboda, in front of his box, was challenged by Castellanos who dispossessed the Dane and in front of Jesse Joronen did not miss. Lazio 1 Venezia 1.

The Biancocelesti took control of the game and in the 16th minute Marusic crossed in the box from the left, Castellanos tried a header which was saved by the keeper.

Noslin slowly got into the match with Lazzari giving him a good hand on the right, Dele-Bashiru started to physically prove his worth and the Biancocelesti shrugged off the initial difficulties. In the 41st minute Noslin made a perfect cross for Taty but his header went just out. Three minutes later penalty for Lazio. Noslin from the right sent a good low cross into the penalty area, Castellanos got to the ball before Marin Sverko who fouled him. Zaccagni took the spot kick and the Biancocelesti closed the first half ahead.

For the first 15 minutes it looked as if Lazio were going to score their third every time they got the ball. In the 52nd minute a Nicolò Casale header after a corner was saved by Joronen. In the 55th minute Dele-Bashiru to Castellanos on the edge of the box. He tried a shot which was deflected by Giorgio Altare, Joronen managed to tip it onto the crossbar.

In the 54th minute Nicholas Pierini and Ridgeciano Haps came on for Gaetano Oristanio and Richie Sagrado.

The Biancocelesti started to tire and Venezia began to take control of the match. In the 57th minute Haps for Ellertsson who shot wide. The Icelandic international was then substituted by Domen Crnigoy and Barone replaced Rovella with Matias Vecino, Noslin with Gustav Isaksen and Loum Tchaouna for Zaccagni.

Haps had a chance in the 79th minute but from a favourable position did not surprise Provedel.

In the 81st minute Lazio closed the game. Matteo Guendouzi with the corner of his eye saw Lazzari running towards the box, ball to him, low cross in the middle but before Tchaouna could tap it in, Altare got there first only to send the ball into his own net.

In the 85th minute Castellanos received the ball from Tchaouna on a counter attack, he controlled it, looked up, and sent a great curling shot towards the goal but it hit the post

Final substitutions: Baroni sent in Pedro for Castellanos and Gaetano Castrovilli for Guendouzi, Eusebio Di Francesco threw in Nunzio Lella and Antonio Raimondo for Andersen and Christian Gytkjaer.

In the third minute of injury time, Pierini took a corner, Altare headed the ball which was deflected towards the far post by Alessio Romagnoli, Provedel made a spectacular save.

That was it, Lazio got their first three points.

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic, Guendouzi (87' Castrovilli), Rovella (65' Vecino), Dele-Bashiru, Noslin (76' Isaksen), Castellanos (87' Pedro), Zaccagni (76' Tchaouna)

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Pellegrini, Patric, Dia, Hysaj, Nuno Tavares, Cataldi

Manager: Baroni

Who played for Venezia

Joronen, Zampano, Gytkjaer (85' Raimondo), Oristanio (53' Pierini), Altare, Sagrado (53' Haps), Svoboda, Duncan, Sverko, Andersen (85' Lella), Ellertsson (70' Crnigoj)

Substitutes: Grandi, Stankovic, Lucchesi, Doumbia

Manager: Di Francesco

Referee: Tremolada

Goals: 4’ Andersen, 11’ Castellanos, 44’ Zaccagni (pen), 81’ Altare (aut.)

What happened next

Lazio started the season well. At the end of the first half they were fourth. Not only. They also topped the Europa League table. It looked like the season could be a triumph despite the massive changes which had taken place. Marco Baroni had managed to adopt an optimal turnover of players between mid-week and weekends which was giving excellent results.

In the second half of the season Lazo began to falter. The way too many injuries reduced the turnover possibilities and Baroni's decision to almost always use the same players did not pay off in the end. The Biancocelesti ended up seventh and did not qualify for Europe.

In the Europa League they managed to reach the quarter finals but were knocked out by Bodo/Glimt on penalties. They also reached the quarters in Coppa Italia and were eliminated by Inter.

Gustav Isaksen topped the appearances (49), Taty Castellanos and Pedro were the top scorers with 14 goals.

Let’s talk about Loum Tchaouna

Loum Tchaouna was born in N'Djamena, Chad, on 8 September 2003, although he moved to France at a young age and represented France at youth international level. A left-footed forward capable of playing on the right wing or through the centre, he developed his game in the French youth system before beginning his professional career with Rennes.

Tchaouna joined Rennes' academy in 2014 after spending his early youth years with FC Kronenbourg, SC Schiltigheim and Strasbourg. He progressed through the club's youth system and signed his first professional contract in December 2020.

He made his senior debut for Rennes on 26 September 2021, coming on as a substitute in a 1-1 Ligue 1 draw against Bordeaux. During the 2021/22 season, he made 14 appearances in all competitions, although most of his opportunities came from the bench.

Seeking regular first-team football, Tchaouna moved to Dijon on loan in August 2022. The season in Ligue 2 gave the young forward valuable experience, and he returned to Rennes having developed further as a senior player.

His next move took him to Italy.

On 31 August 2023, Tchaouna joined Salernitana on a permanent transfer. The move gave him the opportunity to establish himself in Serie A, and he quickly became one of the more promising young players in a difficult season for the Campanian club.

Tchaouna made 35 appearances in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign, scoring six goals. Four of those came in Serie A, while he also scored twice in the Coppa Italia.

Despite Salernitana's relegation, his individual performances attracted the attention of several clubs.

Lazio moved quickly.

In the summer of 2024, Tchaouna joined the Biancocelesti. He made 37 appearances across all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, scoring twice, including one Serie A goal and one in the Europa League. His opportunities were often as a substitute, but he remained part of the squad throughout the season. After a promising start, he faded away during the course of the season, as did Lazio.

In July 2025, he left Lazio to join Burnley, moving to England as the next step in his career. Burnley reportedly paid around €15 million for the winger, with the transfer representing another significant step in his career.

His first and only season at Turf Moor was a mixed one. Tchaouna made 32 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals but Burnley were relegated.

In July 2026, he joined Coventry City on a permanent transfer.