Pedrito strikes again
Game 10, Serie A
Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio-Fiorentina 1-0
An early second half goal by the veteran Canary Islander sees off Fiorentina
Lazio were currently 8th, with 14 points. The Biancocelesti had started well with two wins but then been inconsistent. Some good wins (including the derby 3-2, Inter 3-1 and Spezia 6-1 at home) were balanced by bad defeats (including Bologna 0-3 and recently Verona 1-4 away). Lazio had won 4, drawn 2 and lost 3.
In Coppa Italia Lazio would play Udinese at home in January.
In the Europa League Lazio had played three games; 1 win (Lokomotiv Moscow 2-0 at home), 1 draw (Olympique Marseille 0-0 at home) and 1 defeat (Galatasaray 0-1 on debut away, courtesy of a huge Strakosha howler). They would now play the same opposition again in the last three group games, starting with OM away on November 4.
Fiorentina were currently joint 5th on 15 points (with Juventus and Atalanta). The Viola had won 5 and lost 4. All or nothing for Fiorentina so far with some good wins (Cagliari 3-0 at home, Atalanta 2-1 away) but also some unexpected defeats (Venezia 0-1 away).
A difficult game to call today. Both teams were inconsistent and only separated by one point in the table. Lazio had been closed at their training headquarters at Formello since their recent heavy 1-4 defeat at Verona. It was to be seen if the reclusion had helped.
The match
A Wednesday evening game brought about 30,000 to the Olimpico. Today Maurizio Sarri was celebrating his 200th match in Serie A.
Lazio played in their classic light blue while Fiorentina today were in red.
Lazio had forward Mattia Zaccagni unavailable.
Fiorentina were without forwards Nicolás González who had Covid-19.
The first chance was for Lazio as after captain Cristiano Biraghi cleared badly, Felipe Anderson sent Manuel Lazzari careering down the right and he crossed but Ciro Immobile's header went high despite Pietro Terraciano mistimed jump.
It was then Lazzari again who burst forward from the midway line and went all the way to the edge of the area where he went for a left-footed curler but Terraciano parried behind for a corner.
Lazio had more initiative but goalscoring chances were few as the game reached the break goalless. Lazio 0 Fiorentina 0.
At the beginning of the second half Fiorentina showed their faces upfront. José Maria Callejón crossed high for Dusan Vlahović who headed down to Gaetano Castrovilli whose shot was walled by Francesco Acerbi, the ball then reached Lucas Torreira who fired over the bar from the area's limit.
In the 52nd minute Lazio scored with an excellent move. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina pumped the ball deep into the guests' half where Sergej Milinkovic-Savic brought it down beautifully, turned and, after a one-two with Immobile, teed up Pedro who burst into the area on the left and blasted a left-footed strike into the roof of the net, 1-0. A wonderful goal.
In the 57th minute Castrovilli was taken off and Jack Bonaventura came on.
Fiorentina threatened mainly on set pieces as when Nikola Milenkovic headed over from a Biraghi freekick. La Viola were slow and predictable and Vlahovic was too isolated up front.
In the last twenty minutes both sides made several substitutions, four each. The game however did not change. Fiorentina had periods of possession but then lost themselves in the last third.
Lazio defended well not conceding any openings to the Florentines and kept their first clean sheet of the season. Above all they clinched three important points against a potential rival for Europe and hoisted themselves slightly higher up in the table.
Lazio moved up to 6th on 17 points while Fiorentina dropped to 8th on 15 (with Juventus).
Who played for Lazio
Reina, Lazzari, Luiz Felipe (77' Patric), Acerbi, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic (79' Basic), Cataldi (83' Leiva), Luis Alberto, Pedro (83' Moro), Immobile, Felipe Anderson
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Fiorentina
Terracciano, Venuti (71' Odriozola), Milenkovic, Quarta, Biraghi (83' Terzic), Duncan (83' Benassi), Torreira, Castrovilli (57' Bonaventura), Callejón (71' Saponara), Vlahovic, Sottil
Substitutes: Rosati, Nastasic, Igor, Maleh, Amrabat, Agostinelli, Toci
Manager: Italiano
Referee: Ayroldi
Goal: 52' Pedro
Sources
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