Depressing
Game 22, Serie A
Saturday, February 11, 2023
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Atalanta 0-2
Lazio crumble against Atalanta who completely outclass the Biancocelesti.
The team
Maurizio Sarri confirmed Danilo Cataldi despite the fact that he had not been 100% lately and also had had a few problems during the week. Manuel Lazzari was still on the bench and blind faith in Adam Marusic and Elseid Hysaj.
The match
One could see immediately that this was not going to be an easy match. Atalanta gained control of the game early on and in the 7th minute Teun Koopmeiners shot from outside the box, well saved by Ivan Provedel. Five minutes later cross from Ademola Lookman from the left, ball to the other side to Hans Hateboer, another Provedel save.
In the 18th minute a massive chance for Lazio. Long ball from Provedel to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic who controlled the ball and dribbled past an Atalanta defender. The Serb found himself in a scoring position just inside the box but central. Ciro Immobile came bursting in and anticipated Milinkovic-Savic. Ball over the crossbar. That should have been a goal.
In the 21st minute Lookman shot from outside the box, the ball hit a Lazio player and looked as if it was going to beat Provedel who instead managed to get a hand to it and pushed the ball onto the crossbar.
In the 23rd minute Koopmeiners to Lookman in the box on the left. Marusic managed to clear, but the ball reached Davide Zappacosta who, with a great curling shot, put the ball past Provedel in the top right corner. 1-0 for Atalanta.
Lazio in difficulty. Lots of mistakes, Cataldi in great trouble and the team couldn't seem to find a hole in the Atalanta armour. In the 35th minute Ramus Hojlund ran for 40 metres followed by Lazio players and once just outside the box he shot. Ball just wide. Alessio Romagnoli got injured in the 36th minute and was substituted by Patric.
There was a need for a mistake by the Bergamaschi and that was what happened in the 43rd minute. Berat Djimsiti “passed” the ball to Mattia Zaccagni who moved towards the edge of the box and shot. Great save by Juan Musso.
Second half
In the 48th minute another long Provedel ball to Milinkovic-Savic who headed the ball towards the Atalanta box. Immobile managed to head it to Felipe Anderson who was anticipated by Rafael Toloi. But the ball went back to Ciro who avoided the return of Toloi and shot. His shot was weak and Musso saved. Another squandered opportunity.
A minute later Lookman to Hojlund who was just too fast for Patric and Luis Alberto. The Danish player sprinted towards the Lazio box and shot, Provedel saved.
Sarri made a major change to the team in the 57th minute. Out went Hysaj, Felipe Anderson and Cataldi, in come Lazzari, Pedro and Matias Vecino. Atalanta also madetwo changes: José Luis Palomino and Merih Demiral for Giorgio Scalvini and Hateboer.
But things went from bad to worse. In the 65th minute Luis Alberto passed to the right but it was too long for Lazzari and too short for Pedro so Palomino intercepted and quickly got a pass to Lookman. The Nigerian moved to the edge of the box and crossed low. Provedel, Patric and Marusic could not reach it, Hojlund made it 2-0 for Atalanta.
Game over. Lazio continued to have problems in creating chances (just a shot from Lazzari in the 84th minute), Atalanta comfortably controlled the rest of the game.
A bad defeat for Lazio.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli (39' Patric), Hysaj (57' Lazzari), Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (57' Vecino), Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson (57' Pedro), Immobile, Zaccagni
Substitutes: Maximiano, Adamonis, Pellegrini, Gila, Marcos Antonio, Basic, Cancellieri, Romero
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Atalanta
Musso, Toloi, Djimsiti, Scalvini (58' Palomino), Hateboer (63' Demiral), De Roon, Koopmeiners, Zappacosta, Ederson, Lookman (89' Boga), Hojlund (89' Zapata)
Substitutes: Sportiello, Bertini, Okoli, Ruggeri, Vorlicky, Soppy
Manager: Gasperini
Referee: Orsato
Goals: 23' Zappacosta, 65' Hojlund
Bookings: Zaccagni, Scalvini, De Roon
Comments