Lazio Look Fearsome as Klose and Cissé Lead Five-Star Display
- Simon Basten
- Jul 20, 2023
- 3 min read
Pre Season Friendly
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Auronzo di Cadore, Stadio Rodolfo Zandegiacomo
Lazio Luzerne 5-1
A brace from Zarate and an irresistible second-half display from Klose and Cissé give supporters a tantalising glimpse of Lazio’s attacking force
The Biancocelesti were in their preseason training in the usual Auronzo di Cadore. They had so far played three friendlies against minor teams and today was the first real test. Luzerne was in the Swiss top tier.
The match
Lazio look like a frightening prospect because up front they now have Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cissé, two strikers with championship-winning credentials. They know how to find the back of the net and would walk into the starting line-up of either Milan or Inter. All they need is for the ball to be delivered into the penalty area, and the German and the Frenchman take care of the rest. Yesterday, they needed only the final half hour to put on another show and demolish Lucerne, who compete in the Swiss topflight. The visitors stayed in the contest for just an hour, until Edy Reja reshuffled his side. It ended in a rout, but Lazio's performance also featured a brace from Mauro Zárate, the Argentine forward eager to prove he is no longer expendable. He is trying to reclaim centre stage, relying less on tricks and more on efficiency. Goals silence all criticism, and Zárate did just that after only four minutes, delicately guiding Lionel Scaloni's cross into the far corner with his first real chance to give Lazio the lead.
With the aim of giving all his players equal playing time, Reja started with a 4-3-3 and a line-up some distance from what was expected to be his strongest eleven. Giuseppe Sculli and Sergio Floccari completed the front three, while Mark Bresciano, Lorik Cana and Francelino Matuzalém formed the midfield. On his debut, the Albanian midfielder confirmed his reputation as a traditional holding player, strong in the tackle and primarily focused on shielding the defence. Lazio's football became more fluid after switching to a 4-4-2, with Matuzalém once again orchestrating play through his superior vision and technical quality. Sculli, in excellent form, frequently dropped back to help Senad Lulić, who still looked uncertain defensively but increasingly confident when attacking. In the 27th minute, the Bosnian raced down the flank and delivered a left-footed cross that led to Zárate's second goal, the Argentine firing a right-footed shot into the corner. Just before half-time, however, Lazio switched off at a corner kick. Cristian Ianu rose highest to head home and reduce the deficit.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Reja introduced what looked like his first-choice team, and within another fifteen minutes it became obvious just how much attacking potential Lazio possessed. Klose controlled and protected the ball in the middle of the Lucerne defence before laying it back to Cristian Ledesma, whose first-time left-footed pass sliced through the penalty area. Cissé controlled it brilliantly before smashing a fierce left-footed shot into the net to make it 3-1. The two marquee signings of president Claudio Lotito appeared far more in sync than in previous outings. Cissé, often drifting to the right wing, constantly searched for space to trouble the Swiss defence with his pace and direct running. In the 37th minute he delivered a perfectly weighted cross that Klose headed home with remarkable technique, almost bowing as he directed the ball into the net. It was a finish full of class from the German, who was not only ruthless in front of goal but also outstanding in creating opportunities. Deep into stoppage time he carried the ball across the pitch before laying it into the path of the onrushing Stefano Mauri, who finished across goal to complete a 5-1 victory. Lazio had scored three goals in the final half hour, underlining the formidable firepower at Reja's disposal.
Who played for Lazio
Marchetti (62' Bizzarri), Scaloni (62' Konko), Diakite (62' Biava), Stankevicius (62' Dias), Lulic (62' Garrido), Cana (62' Brocchi), Matuzalem (62' Ledesma), Bresciano (46' Foggia, 62' Cisse), Zarate (62' Hernanes), Sculli (62' Mauri), Floccari (46' Rocchi, 62' Klose)
Manager: Reja
Who played for Luzerne
Zibung, Thiesson (46' Adekunle), Fanger, Kibebe, Lustenberger (46' Hochstrasser), Kryeziu, Kukeli, Winter, Wiss (46' Siegrist), Hyka (46' Sarr), Ianu (46' Pakar)
Substitutes: Strohhammer, Pakar, Sorgic, Urtic
Manager: Yakin
Referee: De Faveri
Goals: 4’ Zarate, 27’ Zarate, 44’ Ianu, 75’ Cissé, 82’ Klose, 91’ Mauri
Sources
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