Immobile Double Secures Lazio Victory Over Celta Vigo

Simon Basten

Aug 10, 2022

4 min read

Season 2019-20

Pre Season Friendly

Saturday, August 10, 2019

Estadio Municipal de Balaidos, Vigo

Celta Vigo Lazio 1-2

Immobile strikes twice as Inzaghi's side defeat Celta Vigo 2-1 to complete a perfect nine-game pre-season and lift the Memorial Quinocho trophy.

The Biancocelesti had spent their usual few weeks pre-season training at Auronzo di Cadore where they had won five games scoring an impressive 44 goals. They then went on to win in Bournemouth, Paderborn and against Al Shabab Riyad. Today was the final preseason friendly in Vigo.

The match

Lazio concluded their overseas pre-season preparations with a 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo at the Estadio Municipal de Balaídos, completing a perfect run of nine wins from nine friendly matches. Ciro Immobile was the star of the evening, scoring twice inside the opening 25 minutes to give Simone Inzaghi's side a commanding lead before the hosts pulled one back before half-time.

The victory also secured the Memorial Quinocho trophy for Lazio and provided another encouraging performance.

Inzaghi fielded a strong starting eleven in Vigo, with Thomas Strakosha in goal and a back three of Denis Vavro, Francesco Acerbi and Stefan Radu. Manuel Lazzari and Jony operated as the wing-backs, with Marco Parolo and Lucas Leiva in midfield alongside Luis Alberto. Joaquin Correa supported Immobile in attack.

The opening stages immediately suggested that Lazio intended to continue their excellent pre-season form.

Celta started brightly in front of their home supporters, but Lazio soon took control. The Biancocelesti pressed high, moved the ball quickly and repeatedly looked to exploit the space on the flanks. Jony, making his first start as a full wing-back for Lazio, was particularly influential on the left, while Lazzari provided a constant threat on the opposite side.

The breakthrough arrived after just seven minutes.

Jony received the ball on the left and delivered an inviting cross into the penalty area. Immobile attacked the delivery and met it with a powerful header, sending the ball beyond the goalkeeper to give Lazio the lead.

Celta attempted to respond, and Strakosha was forced into an excellent save after Denis Suárez found space to shoot. The Lazio goalkeeper reacted brilliantly to keep the hosts from immediately equalising.

Instead, Lazio doubled their advantage.

The second goal, scored in the 25th minute, was the product of a flowing attacking move. Lucas Leiva recovered possession before the ball was worked through Luis Alberto and Correa. Jony then became involved again, combining with Luis Alberto before the ball eventually reached Parolo.

The midfielder switched play towards Lazzari, who delivered a first-time cross into the area.

Immobile was waiting.

The striker produced a superb finish, meeting the cross on the volley and sending the ball into the net. It was an outstanding goal and completed a brilliant individual performance inside the opening half-hour.

Lazio were now playing with confidence. Luis Alberto and Correa constantly changed positions, making it difficult for Celta's defence to track them, while the movement of the two wing-backs created additional space. The visitors were capable of attacking at speed but also of patiently moving the ball through midfield before suddenly accelerating towards goal.

The only problem was that Lazio were unable to turn their dominance into a third goal.

Correa came close, while Lazzari and Vavro also threatened. Lazio were creating enough opportunities to put the game beyond Celta's reach, but the hosts remained alive.

And with six minutes remaining in the first half, Celta were handed a way back into the match.

A relatively harmless long-range shot from Fran Beltrán appeared to be heading comfortably towards Strakosha. Instead, the Lazio goalkeeper failed to hold the ball, allowing it to slip through his hands and into the net.

It was a disappointing mistake and one that ensured the hosts went into the interval with renewed hope.

Lazio led 2-1 at half-time, but the match was far from over.

Inzaghi made several changes during the second half. Radu was replaced by Bastos, while Danilo Cataldi came on for Leiva. Felipe Caicedo replaced Immobile, before later making way for André Anderson after suffering a muscular problem. Bobby Adekanye and Patric also entered the game, while Valon Berisha was introduced during the closing stages.

The substitutions inevitably changed the rhythm of the match, but Lazio continued to create chances.

Jony remained one of the most dangerous players on the pitch. The Spaniard had already provided the assist for Immobile's opening goal and later produced another excellent delivery, this time finding Acerbi in the penalty area. The defender rose to meet the cross, but his header struck the crossbar.

Caicedo then came close to scoring shortly after his introduction, only to see his effort hit the woodwork as well.

Lazio continued to threaten on the counter-attack, with their pace causing problems whenever Celta committed players forward. Adekanye also came close when a dangerous shot-cross travelled across the face of goal without finding a Lazio player able to apply the finishing touch.

At the other end, Celta continued to search for an equaliser. Lazio's defence occasionally looked vulnerable, particularly as fatigue began to set in, but Acerbi and Vavro dealt with most of the danger. The visitors also had Strakosha to thank for his earlier save, which proved increasingly important as the match progressed.

Cataldi came close to extending Lazio's lead with a powerful long-range effort, while the visitors continued to threaten through Correa and their wide players. But there was to be no further scoring.

The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for Lazio.

It was their ninth win in nine pre-season matches, an extraordinary record that had seen Inzaghi's side defeat opponents from across Europe and beyond. The victory also earned Lazio the Memorial Quinocho trophy and brought their total to 59 goals during the summer preparations.

Who played for Celta Vigo

Ruben Blanco, Kevin V. (75' Molina), Aidoo (61' J. Sáenz), D. Costas (61' Nestor), Olaza, Brais, Beltran (83' Bermejo), Lobotka (75' Carreira), Denis (83' Sisto), Iago Aspas, Lautaro (75' Losada)

Substitutes: Ivan Villar, Vieites

Manager: Escriba

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Vavro (67' Patric), Acerbi, Radu (59' Bastos), Lazzari, Parolo, Leiva (59' Cataldi), Luis Alberto (75' Berisha), Jony (67' Adekanye), Correa, Immobile (59' Caicedo, 68' André Anderson)