Light at the end of the tunnel

2023-24 Season

Game 33, Serie A

Friday, April 19, 2024

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Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa

Genoa Lazio 0-1

Lazio play well and thanks to a Luis Alberto goal now have European hopes

Official SS Lazio photo

The team

With half of the squad out due to injury, Igor Tudor did what he could and went for Manuel Lazzari on the left wing for the second consecutive match. Alessio Romagnoli was available again but placed on the bench, whilst Luis Alberto, who had recently stated he wanted to leave at the end of the season, and Felipe Anderson, who will be playing for Palmeiras next year, were in the first eleven despite many fans wanting them out.

First half

Genoa started well and in the 5th minute Caleb Ekuban on the right went past Mario Gila, moved inside the box and tried a shot which shaved the post. In the 13th minute Kevin Strootman to Albert Gudmundsson, back heel to Mateo Retegui who from just inside the area shot too high.

At this point Lazio took over the game and the hosts just waited for the right moment. The Biancocelesti managed to move the ball around well but found it difficult to be dangerous. In the 27th minute Felipe Anderson tried a shot from outside the box but it went wide. There were other attempts from outside the area, something rarely tried before this season. In the 36th minute Lazzari was forced off and replaced by Elseid Hysaj.

In the 44th minute Nicolò Casale lost possession just inside the Genoa half and Retegui, instead of going forward, tried an impossible lob from way out which obviously flew well over the Lazio goal. The Biancocelesti a minute later had a chance with Taty Castellanos but in front of the goalkeeper he went for a pass to Luis Alberto and the opportunity was wasted.

In the first minute of injury time, quick counter attack and Genoa had a three against one opportunity. Ekuban, instead of passing to Gudmonsson, decided to go solo and once in the box tried a shot that went out.

Second half

In the interval Tudor took off Casale, awful in the first half, and put in Romagnoli and the Lazio defence certainly benefitted. In the 53rd minute Luis Alberto tried a shot from outside the box on the left, saved into corner by Josep Martinez. In the 61st minute high ball in the Genoa box, Koni De Winter slipped allowing Adam Marusic to pass to Hysaj, ball to Felipe Anderson who tried a shot, walled by Aaron Martin.

Six minutes later, Lazio scored. Felipe Anderson on the right passed the ball in the box to Daichi Kamada who outpaced Morten Frendrup and from the byline sent it towards the middle. Matias Vecino dummied, Luis Alberto, in a perfect position, drilled the ball in.

 Game over. Genoa, who had not really done much, did not have anything left in the tank, and the Biancocelesti comfortably controlled the game.

A good win, Lazio played well and deserved the victory.

Who played for Genoa

Martinez, De Winter, Vogliacco (79' Sabelli), Vasquez, Spence, Frendrup (88' Thorsby) , Strootman (68' Badelj) , Gudmundsson, Martin, Ekuban (68' Ankeye), Retegui

Substitutes: Leali, Sommariva, Bohinen, Cittadini, Papadopoulos, Pittino, Haps

Manager: Gilardino

Who played for Lazio

Mandas, Patric, Casale (46' Romagnoli), Gila, Marusic, Vecino, Kamada, Lazzari (36' Hysaj), Felipe Anderson (68' Cataldi), Luis Alberto (85' Rovella), Castellanos (68' Pedro).

Substitutes: Sepe, Renzetti, Pellegrini, Isaksen

Manager: Tudor

Referee: Feliciani

Goal: 67’ Luis Alberto

Bookings: Casale (L), Cataldi (L)