Lazio End Pre-Season with Victory Over Atromitos
- Simon Basten
- Aug 16, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 28
Pre Season Friendly
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Stadio Centro Italia, Rieti
Lazio Atromitos 2-0
A chaotic first half gives way to a composed second as Noslin and Pedro secure a 2-0 victory and bring Lazio's pre-season to a positive conclusion.
Lazio, who had decided to do the pre-season training directly at Formello, had so far played four friendlies plus a training match with the Primavera. They had won at Avellino and Burnely, lost with Fenerbahçe, and drawn with Galatasaray. Today’s game was the last one.
The match
Lazio brought their pre-season to a chaotic but ultimately positive conclusion, defeating Atromitos 2-0 at the Stadio Centro d'Italia-Manlio Scopigno in Rieti. The final score, however, told only part of the story. What began as a relatively routine friendly descended into an ugly brawl midway through the first half, before the Biancocelesti regained their composure and produced a much-improved second-half performance to secure victory.
The match had been intended as Maurizio Sarri's final test before the start of the competitive season, but the opening 45 minutes were overshadowed by an extraordinary confrontation involving players from both teams. Two goals in the second half, from Tijjani Noslin and Pedro, eventually gave Lazio a deserved victory and allowed them to end their preparations on a positive note.
Sarri began with Christos Mandas in goal, behind a defence of Manuel Lazzari, Mario Gila, Oliver Provstgaard and Luca Pellegrini. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Danilo Cataldi and Matteo Guendouzi formed the midfield, while Matteo Cancellieri, Taty Castellanos and captain Mattia Zaccagni made up the attacking trio.
Lazio initially attempted to establish control through possession, moving the ball patiently and looking to create openings against an Atromitos side that was largely content to defend. The Biancocelesti struggled to create clear chances, however, and the match gradually became increasingly physical.
The tension finally boiled over after half an hour.
The first confrontation involved Guendouzi and Ismahila Ouedraogo following a midfield challenge. Guendouzi was accused of striking the Atromitos player on the leg while he was on the ground, prompting a reaction from Marin Ruiz. The two players became involved in a confrontation, with several teammates quickly joining the altercation.
The situation deteriorated further shortly afterwards. Lima Santos then committed a dangerous challenge from behind on Castellanos, catching the Lazio striker on the calf with a high foot. The Argentine reacted and the two players became involved in a fight.
Referee Francesco Fourneau was forced to stop the match for around five minutes as players, substitutes and staff from both sides became involved. The confrontation even continued towards the tunnel leading to the dressing rooms, with police eventually intervening.
Castellanos and Lima Santos were both shown red cards, while Guendouzi and Marin Ruiz were booked. It was an ugly episode that had little place in a pre-season friendly and completely disrupted the rhythm of the match.
When play resumed, both teams had to adapt. Lazio effectively abandoned the original 4-3-3, with Zaccagni moving into a false-nine role following Castellanos' dismissal. Dele-Bashiru moved higher on the left and Cancellieri operated on the right, with the team taking on a 4-2-3 shape in possession and a 4-4-1 when defending.
Atromitos also made a tactical adjustment, replacing striker Van Weert with defender Tsakmakis.
The first half ended goalless, but the match changed considerably after the interval. Sarri introduced Ivan Provedel, Adam Marusic and Boulaye Dia, with the latter joining an increasingly fluid Lazio attack. Nuno Tavares, Nicolò Rovella, Pedro, Noslin, Alessio Romagnoli, Elseid Hysaj and Toma Basic would also enter during the second half as Sarri used the game to give his squad extensive playing time.
Lazio gradually began to take control.
The Biancocelesti moved the ball with greater speed and precision, producing the kind of football Sarri had been trying to establish. The contrast with the chaotic events of the first half was striking.
The breakthrough arrived in the 76th minute, and it was the product of an excellent team move.
Lazio patiently worked the ball through a sequence of 14 consecutive passes before Marusic delivered the decisive cross. Noslin arrived at the right moment and headed the ball into the net to give Lazio the lead.
The Biancocelesti continued to press for a second, and it arrived in the final minute of normal time.
Dia, who had entered during the second half, combined with Pedro to create the opportunity. The Spanish veteran finished the move to make it 2-0 and score his second goal of pre-season, becoming Lazio's leading scorer during the summer preparations.
The goal was another example of the improved attacking football Lazio had produced after the break. Having been frustrated by Atromitos during the opening half, the Biancocelesti eventually found the spaces they needed through patient possession and movement.
The final whistle brought an end to an unusual evening in Rieti. The 2-0 victory ensured that Lazio finished their pre-season with a positive result, but the match also highlighted areas that Sarri would have wanted to address before the competitive campaign began.
Who played for Lazio
Mandas (46' Provedel), Lazzari (46' Marusic), Gila (86' Hysaj), Provstgaard (73' Romagnoli), Pellegrini (57' Nuno Tavares), Dele-Bashiru (46' Dia), Cataldi (57' Rovella), Guendouzi (86' Basic), Cancellieri (65' Pedro), Castellanos, Zaccagni (73' Noslin)
Substitute: Furlanetto
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Atromitos
Choutesiotis (46' Koselev), Stavropoulos, Michorl (80' Karamanis), Van Weert (37' Tsamakis), Palmezano Reyes, Marin Ruiz, Ouedraogo (80' Tsiloulis), Uronnen, Baku (80' Tsingaras), Lima Santos, Tzovaras (77' Jubitana)
Substitutes: Athanasiou, Ozegovic, Mountes, Papadopoulos, Tsantilas, Batos
Manager: Vokolos
Referee: Forneau
Goals: 76’ Noslin, 90’ Pedro
Sources
Comments