Lazio go solitary top

Dag Jenkins

Oct 3, 2023

3 min read

Season 2010-11

Game 6, Serie A

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio-Brescia 1-0

A Mauri goal just before halftime is enough to become league leaders

In Serie A so far the Biancocelesti had played five games and were joint top with Inter on 10 points. The Biancocelesti had won 3 (Bologna 3-1 at home, Fiorentina 2-1 and Chievo 1-0 away), drawn 1 (Milan 1-1 at home) and lost 1 (Sampdoria 0-2 away on debut).

So far Brescia had won 3 (Palermo 3-2, Roma 2-1 at home and Chievo 1-0 at home) and lost 2 (Parma 0-2 on debut and Bari 1-2 away). The Swallows were joint 3rd on 9 points. A decent start.

So a high flying clash today. The joint leaders against 3rd placed Brescia.

The match

A mild and sunny day brought about 30,000 spectators to the Olimpico for this classic Sunday 3 pm kick-off.

Lazio were without midfielders Francelino Matuzalem and Álvaro González while Brescia were missing defenders Jonathan Zebina and Davide Zoboli plus midfielder Antonio Filippini.

The first half was balanced although Lazio attacked more. Brescia were buttoned up, disciplined and organised so Lazio had difficulties in the last 30 metres.

It was Brescia in fact who threatened first with Marco Zambelli whose shot Fernando Muslera tipped over the bar and then the Uruguayan was safe on a Brescia free kick.

Lazio occasionally broke through the Lombards tactical block as in the 17th minute when Matteo Sereni had to dive and put a Cristian Brocchi effort behind for a corner. The Parma-born keeper did even better in the 35th minute when he slapped away a Mauro Zarate free kick heading for the top hand corner.

In the 43rd minute Sergio Floccari defended the ball well with his chest in the area, turned and shot from close range but Francesco Bega managed to put a foot in the way and save his team.

Just as it seemed the visitors would reach halftime unscathed Lazio scored. In the 44th minute Hernanes went on a brilliant run going past three opponents and gifted a perfect assist to Stefano Mauri who beat Sereni with a cross goal drive, 1-0.

In the second half play was more open as there was more space. Brescia were forced to attack and showed they could be dangerous.

The closest they came was in the 59th minute with Éder whose powerful low strike was saved by Muslera in fine style. A minute later Stefan Lichtsteiner did well to block an Alessandro Diamanti back heeled effort.

Then the first substitutions came; for Lazio Mark Bresciano replaced Hernanes while for Brescia Davide Possanzini Possanzini came on for Andrea Caracciolo. Five minutes later Mauro Zarate also went off for Tommaso Rocchi.

The game went a bit quiet and the visitors tried to revive their attacking intent by bringing on Pangiotīs Kone for more muscular and defensive Davide Baiocco.

They barely had time to increase their pressure before they were reduced to ten men. In the 75th minute Diamanti committed a trivial but stupid foul and as he was already on a booking he was off.

From then on Lazio had no problems maintaining control and seeing the game out.

All that happened was two more substitutions; Pasquale Foggia for Floccari (85') and Alessandro Budel for Nicolás Córdova (90').

After four minutes of added time Lazio could celebrate the win. The Biancocelesti were provisionally alone at the top of the table on 13 points as Inter would play Juventus in the evening.

It was not a dominant performance but all in all a deserved win. Brescia had defended well and frustrated Lazio for long periods. Once trailing however they lacked the firepower up front to really put Lazio in difficulty.

Inter then drew 0-0 with Juventus so Lazio were guaranteed to be top for at least two weeks as Serie A now paused for the international break.

Who played for Lazio

Muslera, Lichtsteiner, Biava, Dias, Radu, Brocchi, Ledesma, Mauri, Hernanes (59' Bresciano), Floccari (85' Foggia), Zarate (64' Rocchi)