August 27, 2017: Chievo-Lazio 1-2
- Dag Jenkins
- 11 hours ago
- 7 min read
Milinkovic-Savic to the rescue
A late goal by the Serb gives Lazio first league win of the season
The season so far
Lazio had finished 5th (EL) the previous season under Simone Inzaghi. The Biancocelesti had lost the first derby but triumphed 3-1 in the second. Other good results were Atalanta 4-3, Pescara 6-2 both away and Sampdoria 7-3 and Palermo 6-2, both at home. Lazio had also reached the Coppa Italia final beating Roma in the semi-final 4-3 on aggregate but then lost to Juventus 0-2. Top scorer was Ciro Immobile with 26 goals (23 in A).
This season Inzaghi was still manager but there had been quite a few changes to the squad. The main new arrivals were: defenders Luiz Felipe (Salernitana-end of loan), Adam Marušić (Oostende), midfielders Davide Di Gennaro (free agent), Lucas Leiva (Liverpool), Nani (Valencia-on loan with option to buy), forwards Felipe Caicedo (Espanyol) and Pedro Neto (Braga-two-year loan with obligation to buy).
Leaving amongst others were: midfielders Lucas Biglia (Milan) and Danilo Cataldi (Benevento -on loan). Forward Keita Baldé (Monaco) and Wesley Hoedt (Southampton) would also leave soon.
The season had started in fantastic style. On August 13, Lazio had defeated Juventus 3-2 to win the Supercoppa Italiana. Lazio went 2-0 up with two Immobile goals but Paulo Dybala responded with a late brace of his own before Alessandro Murgia got Lazio’s winner in the 93rd minute. Lazio lifted their 4th Supercoppa.
Serie A had then started on August 20, a disappointing 0-0 home draw against SPAL. Today was the second league fixture.
Chievo Verona were one of Lazio's bête noires but only in Rome while away in Verona the Biancocelesti had a much better record.
Chievo had finished 14th in Serie A the previous season under manager Rolando Maran. The top scorer was Roberto Inglese with 12 goals (10 in A). The Clivensi had drawn 1-1 with Lazio in Verona but won 1-0 in Rome. Chievo's best result was defeating Inter 2-0 at home.
This season Maran had been confirmed. The main new signings were; defenders Mattia Bani (Pro Vercelli), Nenad Tomović (Fiorentina) and Paweł Jaroszyński (KS Kraków), midfielders Mehdi Léris (Juventus -back from loan), Gianluca Gaudino (Bayern Munich via San Gallo) plus forwards Luca Garritano (Cesena), Manuel Pucciarelli (Empoli) and Mariusz Stępinski (Nantes).
Leaving were; defenders Gennaro Sardo (retiring) and Nicolás Spolli (Genoa), midfielders Jonathan De Guzman (Napoli-end of loan, then Eintracht Frankfurt), Mariano Izco (Crotone) plus forward Serge Gakpè (Genoa-end of loan, then Amiens) and Sofian Kiyine (Salernitana-on loan).
Chievo had started the season well winning 2-1 away at Udinese with goals by Inglese and Birsa.
Not an easy game for Lazio today but they could count on their favourable record away to Chievo.
The match: Sunday, August 27, 2017, Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi, Verona
A hot and humid Sunday night kick-off saw about 10,000 spectators gather at the Bentegodi. A minute's silence was observed in memory of the victims of the recent earthquake in Ischia (an island off Naples).
Lazio were missing Felipe Anderson and Keita Baldé while Lucas Leiva was making his Serie A debut.
Chievo were without defender Nenad Tomovic plus forwards Mariusz Stępiński and Riccardo Meggiorini.
Lazio played in their electric blue away kit while Chievo were in their classic yellow.
After a cautious start by both sides Lazio went in front in the 11th minute. Luis Alberto swung in a corner, the hosts' keeper Stefano Sorrentino mistimed his jump and Ciro Immobile, who was lurking on the far post, headed in, 0-1.
A perfect start for the Biancocelesti but things soon got complicated. Chievo were faster, fresher and more reactive. They took the game to Lazio and went close to an equaliser several times. Thomas Strakosha saved twice on Lucas Castro headers and Stefan Radu on the goalline managed to deflect a Roberto Inglese strike behind for a corner.
Halfway through the first half the referee called for a hydration break due to the oppressive heat.
Lazio had a rare attack just after the half hour mark as Luis Alberto set up Immobile who went round the keeper but stumbled and lost the moment.
The goal was coming for Chievo and it came in the 34th minute. Ivan Radovanovic shot and Wallace blocked but the ball hit Inglese and ended up in the path of Manuel Pucciarelli's who put it under the crossbar, 1-1.
Chievo almost scored a second a few minutes later but Strakosha denied Castro again.
The first half ended and the stats were all in favour of Chievo; 57% possession, 8 shots, 6 corners and 19 crosses into the area.
There were no changes for the second half and Chievo still pushed more but with less intensity.
On the hour mark Lazio made two changes; off went Leiva and Marco Parolo and on came Felipe Caicedo and Jordan Lukaku.
Lazio now looked more positive as Lukaku on one wing and Dusan Basta on the other kept Chievo further back.
Chievo still threatened occasionally with Valter Birsa and Inglese but were unable to keep the first half's rhythm.
It was now Lazio who had more chances as Immobile threatened with a header, Caicedo lost his footing in a favourable position and later King Ciro fired into the side netting.
The climatic conditions were uncomfortable and in the 75th minute the "Mussi Volanti" (Flying Donkeys) brought on Boštjan Cesar for Dario Dainelli and in the 80th Luca Garritano for Pucciarelli. Meanwhile Lazio introduced Adam Marusic for Basta.
The game was still balanced but Lazio attacked more.
In the 84th minute the Veronesi tried bringing on bogey man Sergio Pellissier who often scored against Lazio.
Lazio were not particularly lucid or organized but their determination was rewarded in the 89th minute. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic picked the ball up outside the area and struck a wonderful shot into the low right-hand corner, 1-2.
In the four minutes of added time Chievo did not give up and went close with another Castro header but it was just over the bar. Final score : Chievo 1 Lazio 2.
A tough game but an excellent three points after the disappointing home draw on their debut. Lazio had been second best in the first half but grew and improved in the second, also helped by Chievo losing energy. Chievo had gone for a sprint start while Lazio, more of a diesel with their bigger players, had lasted the distance and won it with a moment of brilliance.
Chievo felt a bit hard done by. They had played very well but faded and were punished by Lazio's superior quality.
Next up after the international break Lazio would play Milan of former player Lucas Biglia.
Who played for Chievo
Sorrentino, Cacciatore, Dainelli (75' Cesar), Gamberini, Gobbi, Castro, Radovanovic, Hetemaj, Birsa, Pucciarelli (80' Garritano), Inglese (84' Pellissier)
Substitutes: Pavoni, Seculin, Bani, Jaroszynski, Bastien, Depaoli, Rigoni, Leris, Vignato
Manager: Maran
Who played for Lazio
Strakosha, Wallace, de Vrij, Radu, Basta (80' Marusic), Parolo, Leiva (59' Caicedo), Lulic (59' Lukaku), Milinkovic-Savic, Luis Alberto, Immobile
Substitutes: Vargic, Guerrieri, Bastos, Luiz Felipe, Crecco, Di Gennaro, Murgia, Palombi
Manager: S.Inzaghi
Referee: Manganiello
Goals: 11' Immobile, 34' Pucciarelli, 89' Milinkovic-Savic
What happened next
In Serie A Lazio finished 5th (EL) and narrowly missed out on Champions League. They lost the last and decisive game 2-3 at home to Inter and were overtaken for 4th place by the Nerazzurri. In total Lazio won 21, drew 9 and lost 8. The highlights were defeating Milan 4-1, Sassuolo 6-1, Benevento 6-2 and Chievo 5-1 at home and Juventus 2-1, Benevento 5-1, SPAL 5-2 and Fiorentina 4-3 away. The top scorer was Ciro Immobile with 41 goals (29 in A). He was top Serie A scorer alongside Inter's Mauro Icardi.
In the Coppa Italia the Biancocelesti reached the semifinals. They eliminated Cittadella 4-1 and Fiorentina 1-0 at home but then lost to Milan on penalties after two goalless draws.
In the Europa League, Lazio reached the quarterfinals. In the first group stage they won 4 (Zulte Waregem 2-0, Nice 1-0 at home, Vitesse 3-2 and Nice 3-1 away), drew 1 (Vitesse 1-1 at home) and lost 1 (Zulte Waregem 2-3 away in the last game). The Biancocelesti then knocked out FSCB (Steaua Bucharest) 5-2 and Dynamo Kyiv 4-2 on aggregate. In the quarter finals they played Red Bull Salzburg, won the first home leg 4-2 but then collapsed in Austria losing 1-4 and conceding three goals in four minutes (72', 74' and 76') after leading through an Immobile goal. Another huge disappointment.
So all in all a season of what could have been, in Serie A, Coppa Italia and Europe.
Chievo finished 13th (+5 on the relegation zone). They then won 9, drew 10 and lost 17. Maran was sacked after the 35th league fixture and in came Lorenzo D'Anna for the last three games. The Clivensi's best result was beating Verona 3-2 in the derby while the return game against Lazio ended in a rare Biancoceleste home win 5-1. Chievo's top scorer was Inglese again with 13 goals (12 in A).
In 2021 Chievo went bust. Former player Sergio Pellissier then founded Football Club Clivense and re-started at regional amateur level. In 2024 they regained the name Chievo. They are now in Serie D.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 34th time and the Bianconeri also won the Coppa Italia.
Serie B awaited Benevento, Hellas Verona and Crotone.
Let's talk about Lazio Jersey 2017-18
The main sponsor was Seleco while the technical sponsor was still Macron.
The home shirt was light blue with a white round neck and a thin white horizontal line at the end of the sleeves The badge was the stylized 1980s eagle in a rhombus shape on the chest. The shorts and socks were white.
The away shirt was electric blue which became dark blue towards the bottom. The Macron sponsor was in light blue while the badge was the official eagle. The shorts and socks were dark blue.
The third shirt used mainly in Europe was thick light blue and white stripes with a light blue collar. The shorts were light blue as were the socks with a light blue band around the lower calf. The eagle was the official club symbol.
The goalkeeper shirt was the same as the home shirt but black with a light blue round neck. The eagle was the 1980s version. There were also red and green alternatives.
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