Lazio have patience
- Simon Basten
- Nov 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 24
Game 10, Serie A
Monday, November 3, 2025
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Cagliari 2-0
Two goals in the second half allow Lazio to win a very difficult match
The team
With Luca Pellegrini not 100%, Maurizio Sarri decided to put Manuel Lazzari on the right hence Adam Marusic yet again was moved to left back. The numerous injured players have however yet to return.
First half
Great choreography from the Curva Nord celebrating Vincenzo Paparelli before the game. They would have done something similar at Pisa, but it was not possibile since Lazio fans had not been allowed in the stadium by the authorities who had prevented them from travelling.
This was certainly going to be a difficult game since Cagliari had shown quality so far particularly away from home where they had not lost since August and even then, in injury time against Napoli. And this showed in the first hour of the game.
In the 15th minute Michael Folorunsho had a chance but his shot from just inside the box on the left was weak and Ivan Provedel saved without took much difficulty.
After a very dismal start, the Biancocelesti woke up in the 28th minute. Mattia Zaccagni went off on the left and put in a splendid low cross for Toma Basic but he squandered the sitter by kicking the ball into the stands. A terrible mistake. But Lazio continued to attack and in the 29th minute Lazzari flew down the right wing and put an interesting low cross into the middle for Zaccagni, ball only just wide. A minute later Marusic tried a shot from outside the box, splendid save into corner from Elia Caprile. At this point the Biancocelesti switched off again and Cagliari had a chance with Folorunsho who from close range, but from a difficult angle, forced Provedel to save with his foot.
Second half
During the interval Sarri was forced to substitute Alesso Romagnoli with Oliver Provstgaard.
Lazio continued to have problems in creating chances and in the 52nd minute a quick Cagliari counterattack allowed Gianluca Gaetano to have a chance but his shot was central and easily saved by Provedel. The visiting midfielder was then substituted by Mattia Felici while for Lazio Matias Vecino came on for Basic.
Out of the blue, in the 65th minute Lazio scored. Matteo Guendouzi to Gustav Isaksen on the right. The Dane quickly moved towards the centre and from out of the box sent a fantastic curling shot which beat Caprile.
An array of substitutions followed as Cagliari tried a comeback. In came Zito Luvumbo and Semih Kilicsoy and later Leonardo Pavoletti and Riyad Idrissi for Sebastiano Esposito, Gennaro Borrelli, Marco Palestra and Folorunsho. Sarri took off Lazzari and put in Luca Pellegrini.
In the 82nd minute Cagliari had a chance when Matteo Prati took a shot which Pavoletti tried to deflect into the goal but the ball went out.
In came Pedro and Tijani Noslin for Isaksen and Boulaye Dia.
Zaccagni had a chance in the 89th minute on a counter attack but instead of passing to a team mate he tried a shot which went too high. He made no mistake a few minutes later. Prati in defence had the unfortunate idea of passing the ball back to a defender, but there was no Cagliari player there just Zaccagni who moved forward and made it 2-0. Game over.
A difficult match, but Lazio showed patience and at the end of the day deserved the win.
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Lazzari (72’ Pellegrini), Gila, Romagnoli (46’ Prostvgaard), Marusic, Guendouzi, Cataldi, Basic (62’ Vecino), Isaksen (84’ Pedro), Dia (84’ Noslin), Zaccagni
Substitutes: Mandas, Frulanetto,, Patric, Belehayne, Hysaj
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Cagliari
Caprile, Zappa, Mina, Luperto, Palestra (79' Idrissi), Prati, Adopo, Esposito (69' Luvumbo), Folorunsho (79' Pavoletti), Gaetano (57' Felici), Borrelli (69' Kilicsoy)
Substitutes: Radunovic, Sarno, Mazzitelli, Rodriguez, Di Pardo, Cavuoti, Zè Pedro
Manager: Pisacane
Referee: Sacchi
Goals: 65’ Isaksen, 90+1’ Zaccagni
Booked: Gaetano (C), Felici (C)
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