Eagles destroy Griffons

Dag Jenkins

Sep 23, 2023

4 min read

Season 2018-19

Game 5, Serie A

Sunday, September 23, 2018

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio - Genoa 4-1

Lazio's goal machine reactivates for convincing win over Genoa

In Serie A Lazio had so far played four games. They had lost the first two (Napoli 1-2 at home and Juventus 0-2 away) but won the next two (Frosinone 1-0 at home and Empoli 1-0 away).

Lazio had also started their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 home win over Apollon Limassol. The group included Eintracht Frankfurt and Olympique Marseille.

So far Genoa had won 2 (Empoli 2-1 and Bologna 1-0 at home) and lost 2 (Milan 1-2 away on debut and Sassuolo 3-5 away).

A balanced game was expected in the capital today. Both teams were on six points. Genoa however had a good recent tradition in Rome against Lazio, winning in 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018 so Lazio had to be careful.

The match

A hot and sunny day brought about 30,000 to the Olimpico for a 3 pm kick-off.

Federico Marchetti, who had played 194 games for Lazio, got a warm welcome back. He was also the keeper in the epic 2013 winning cup final against Roma.

Lazio were without defenders Luiz Felipe and Stefan Radu while the only surprise was Felipe Caicedo playing instead of Luis Alberto.

Genoa were missing defender Cristian Romero, midfielder Miguel Veloso and forward Gianluca Lapadula while Goran Pandev was on the bench not fully fit.

The first threat towards goal was by Wallace from a Lucas Leiva free kick but his header was high.

In the 7th minute Lazio went in front. On a long ball to the right of the area Senad Lulic headed back across goal, Marco Parolo couldn't reach it but the ball bounced and in came Caicedo who dived and headed in, 1-0.

Genoa responded with Krzysztof Pionţek but his low shot was weak and central.

A few minutes later Parolo freed himself cleverly and shot from the long range but the ball went inches wide of the post.

In the 23rd minute Lazio doubled the score. Daniel Bessa was naively dispossessed by Caicedo and Parolo and the midfielder then placed a perfect first time low pass to Ciro Immobile who reached the ball inside the area on the left and beat his old teammate Marchetti with a low strike on the far post, 2-0.

Iuri Medeiros then showed good skills weaving his way to the edge of the area but his low effort was slightly deflected and finished just wide of the left post.

In the 27th minute Genoa made their first substitution as defender Nicolas Spolli, already booked and in difficulty, was replaced by forward Christian Kouamé.

Immobile again tried an ambitious curling shot from the left side of the area but it was way off target.

Genoa came again and Kouamé had a shot but like Pionţek previously it lacked power and precision and Thomas Strakosha was unperturbed by the Ivorian's effort. Halftime: Lazio 2 Genoa 0.

The second half was barely underway when Genoa reopened the game. After only 39 seconds Koaume worked the ball well on the left of the area and squared to Pionţek but Francesco Acerbi appeared to be able to anticipate him however the ball ricocheted off the Polish striker and fell perfectly for an easy finish, 2-1. A fortuitous goal but the Griffon vultures had struck, game on.

Genoa's hopes did not last long as in the 53rd minute Lazio restored their two goal cushion. Lulic crossed well from the left and Sergej-Milinkovic Savic rose up imperiously and headed down past Marchetti, 3-1. A wonderful header.

A few minutes later the Rossoblu took off midfielder Romulo and threw on forward Darko Lazovic.

Lazio now were having fun and produced some excellent team moves. They went close to a fourth goal with Caicedo, Milinkovic-Savic, Immobile and Parolo.

Meanwhile both sides made more changes; for Lazio, Joaquín Correa and Milan Badelj came on for Caicedo and Milinkovic-Savic while for Genoa, Sandro replaced Medeiros.

The game was totally in Lazio's hands but they made one more substitution in the 86th minute when Adam Marusic was taken off and Patric got a few minutes.

The deserved fourth goal finally came in the 89th minute. Correa astutely freed himself on the right side of the area and shot low, Marchetti saved with a foot but Immobile pounced on the rebound and made it 4-1 and final score.

A convincing win for Lazio. In the second half especially, Lazio had run riot. Lucas Leiva had been outstanding and the new Immobile-Caicedo partnership had worked well.

Genoa had been poor. They started defensively (3-5-2) and were too static and then became more ambitious (3-4-2-1) but unbalanced. In the second half Lazio could have scored four or five goals.

Next up for Lazio in Serie A was a trip to Udine while Genoa would meet Chievo at home. Lazio were now 5th on 9 points while Genoa were 12th on 6 points.

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Wallace, Acerbi, Cáceres, Marusic (86' Patric), Parolo, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic (71' Badelj), Lulic, Caicedo (62' Correa), Immobile