Are we really this bad?

Season 2025-26

Game 1, Serie A

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Como

Como Lazio 2-0

Como outclass Lazio in every aspect and deservedly win

Source Lazio Wiki

The team

Maurizio Sarri had to decide between a number of role choices and in the end opted for Ivan Provedel in goal, Danilo Cataldi as playmaker and Taty Castellanos as centre forward. Forced to be without Gustav Isaksen, Matias Vecino, Samuel Gigot and Patric through injury plus Alessio Romagnoli suspended, in came Oliver Provstgaard and Matteo Cancellieri.  Manuel Lazzari was placed as right back ahead of Adam Marusic, de facto the only other player who could come in as central defender.

First half

The first half was interesting despite not a lot happening. Lazio defended decently, very tight, but were able to do very little up front, faced with an extremely aggressive Como who seemed to be physically sharper than the Biancocelesti.

The main opportunity for the locals arrived in the 23rd minute when Provedel made an excellent save on a Mergim Vojvoda volley. Lazio had a half chance in the 35th minute when Cancellieri from close to the byline managed to pass back to Matteo Guendouzi but his attempt was too weak and central.

Second half

Lazio were immediately dangerous with a Cancellieri shot in the 46th minute only just wide. Then Como scored sixty seconds later. Great ball from Nico Paz to Tasos Douvikas who beat Mario Gila for speed and made it 1-0.

Sarri immediately changed the right wing: out Cancellieri and Lazzari in Pedro and Marusic.  And Lazio equalised in the 63rd with a long ball from behind from Gila to Castellanos who all alone  in front of goal managed not to miss. But he was offside by probably merely a centimetre.

A few minutes later Sarri substituted Nuno Tavares and Cataldi with Luca Pellegrini and Nicolò Rovella. But Como scored again. Wonderful free kick taken by Paz, 2-0.

Game over. The home side could have made it three but the crossbar saved the Biancocelesti on a Vojvoda shot in the 77^th minute. Boulaye Dia came on for Fisayo Dele-Bashiru but with no effect.

Lazio were outclassed in every aspect by Como who played a great game. The Biancocelesti played like they had in the pre-season friendlies, very tight, hoping for the counter attack, but defensive errors cost them the game and they did nothing in attack. Their rhythm was slow and they were physically in trouble against an aggressive Como. But are they this bad? Hopefully not.

Who played for Como

Butez, Van der Brempt (70' Smolcic), Ramon, Kempf, Valle, Da Cunha, Perrone (78' Caqueret), Vojvoda, Paz (78' Sergi Roberto), Rodriguez (90'+2' Kuhn), Douvikas (70' Morata)

Substitutes: Lopes Menke, Vigorito, Goldaniga, Sergi Roberto, Gabrielloni, Fellipe Jack, Alberto Moreno, Baturina, Cutrone, Monzon

Manager: Fabregas

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Lazzari (60' Marusic), Gila, Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares (66' Pellegrini), Guendouzi, Cataldi (66' Rovella), Dele-Bashiru (75' Dia), Cancellieri (60' Pedro), Castellanos, Zaccagni

Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Noslin, Belahyane, Hysaj, Basic

Manager: Sarri

Referee: Manganiello

Goals: 47' Douvikas, 73' Paz

Booked: Paz (C), Zaccagni (L), Van der Brempt (C), Castellanos (L), Guendouzi (L)