Alive and kicking

Simon Basten

Sep 19, 2022

4 min read

Updated: Sep 13

2022-23 Season

Game 7, Serie A

Sunday, September 18, 2022

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Cremona, Stadio Giovanni Zini

Cremonese Lazio 0-4

Lazio (hopefully) proved that the collapse in Denmark was just a bad day at the office by winning comfortably against Cremonese.

The teams

Maurizio Sarri, not pleased after the debacle in Denmark, decided to make three changes to the team that had beaten Verona the previous Sunday: in came Elseid Hysaj to replace injured Manuel Lazzari, Matías Vecino took Toma Bašić’s place and Danilo Cataldi was back in his usual midfield position after his suspension. Cremonese were hoping to secure their first three points of the season.

The Biancocelesti had not won at Cremona since 1983 when a cracking free kick from Bruno Giordano a few minutes from time gave Lazio a miraculous win.

The match

Emanuele Valeri immediately showed why Lazio had laid their eyes on him. The Cremonese defence in the 6th minute put the ball over the Lazio midfield and defence in the hope that one of their players would get there first (something they did very often in the match). Valeri ran past Hysaj (something that happened very often in the match) but his shot was wide.

A minute later Lazio scored in typical fashion. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic saw Ciro Immobile’s move towards the goal and passed. Immobile’s control was perfect, Ionut Radu stayed put, and King Ciro made it 1-0.

Cremonese did not really know what to do and Lazio made it two. In the 20th minute Felipe Anderson tried to cross the ball for Immobile, the Cremonese defence cleared, Immobile gotto the ball first and soot, it hit Luka Lochoshvili and wentout. Lazio screamed for handball and VAR came into action.

The ball had hit the Romanian player first on the chest and then the arms that however were high, as if he were being threatened at gunpoint. Penalty for Lazio. Immobile made it 2-0.

Cremonese lost Vlad Chiriches to injury in the 28th minute. He was substituted by Matteo Bianchetti. Lazio almost made it three six minutes later. The Grigiorossi fumbled in the penalty box, ball to Felipe Anderson who instead of just whacking it in went for precision allowing Bianchetti to save into a corner.

Finally, Cremonese showed some initiative in the 38th minute. Usual ball over the Lazio midfield, David Okereke had a chance but his shot was wide.

In the second minute of injury time, Radu cleared the penalty box only to give the ball straight to Cataldi who passed it to Immobile. Ciro looked around and saw Mattia Zaccagni in the box. Ball to the former Verona player who shoo, Radu saved but Milinkovic-Savic was there for the tap in. 3-0 for Lazio.

How would Lazio play in the second half?

Lazio had been known to have concentration problems once they were ahead. This was exactly what Cremones were hoping for. They had a good opportunity in the 49th minute when a cross from the left saw Leonardo Sernicola unmarked just inside the penalty box. His shot was walled by Patric’s backside.

A minute later, yet another Cremonese fumble inside the penalty box led to Felipe Anderson finding himself all alone in front of the goalkeeper. Instead of shooting he passed the ball to Immobile who was caught by surprise and got there slightly late. His shot was wide.

The Grigiorossi had another chance in the 56th minute. Corner for Cremonese, the cross got to Bianchetti who timed his jump perfectly but not the header that went wide.

A minute later in came Alessio Romagnoli and Pedro and out went Nicolò Casale and Zaccagni. Yet another chance for Immobile’s hat trick in the 59th minute. Felipe Anderson’s pass found Immobile on the edge of the penalty box, he went in and shot but Radu saved. Eight minutes later Ciro tried again but his shot was too high.

It was Luis Alberto’s turn to come on in the 66th minute. Out went Vecino.

Valeri showed his skills five minutes later. Santiago Ascacibar’s shot was deflected, ball in the air, Valeri tried a bicycle-kick and Ivan Provedel saved.

Two more substitutions for Lazio in the 78th minute: Basic and Mario Gila on the pitch in place of Milinkovic-Savic and Patric. A minute later, exceptional Lazio counter attack, marvellous pass from Luis Alberto to Immobile who immediately delivered the ball to Pedro. No mistake from the Spaniard and it was 4-0.

Cremonese hoisted the white flag and the game came slowly to an end. Lazio had a chance to make it 5 with two minutes to go. Romagnoli hit the woodwork with a header from a corner.

Good response from Lazio after losing in Europa League.

Who played for Cremonese

Radu; Aiwu, Chiriches (28' Bianchetti), Lochoshvili (46' Vasquez); Sernicola, Meite (63' Pickel), Escalante (46' Ascacibar), Valeri; Zanimacchia (80' Milanese); Okereke, Dessers

Substitutions: Saro, Ciezkowski, Hendry, Baez, Ciofani, Buonaiuto, Ghiglione, Afena, Quagliata, Tsadjout

Manager: Alvini

Who played for Lazio

Provedel; Hysaj, Patric (78' Gila), Casale (57' Romagnoli), Marusic; Milinkovic-Savic (78' Basic), Cataldi, Vecino (67' Luis Alberto); Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni (57' Pedro)