Disgraceful

Season 2026-27

Round of 32, Coppa Italia

Sunday August 16, 2026

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

Lazio Mantova 0-2

Lazio deservedly beaten at home by second tier Mantova and out of the Coppa Italia

Photo by Simon Basten

There is not that much to say about this game. Lazio started well in front of an empty stadium due to the fans' strike and, in the early stages, hit the woodwork with a Fisayo Dele-Bashiru effort deflected by a defender. Boulaye Dia missed an almost open goal on the rebound, while shortly afterwards Matteo Cancellieri wasted another opportunity.

Then came very little, apart from a Mattia Zaccagni shot midway through the first half.

Mantova defended well, putting up a solid wall at the back and looking dangerous on the counter. They were helped by the lack of cover from the Biancoceleste midfield and by a disastrous day with his feet from Christos Mandas, who seemed determined to give the ball away to the Mantova players with his passes.

Lazio were far too static, with the ball constantly going backwards rather than forwards. Despite the encouraging performances in pre-season, when the team had looked more inventive and attacking-minded, this felt like a game from the previous season.

Nothing changed after the break, with Cancellieri comically wasting another chance. Rino Gattuso tried to shake the team out of its apathy by introducing Davide Frattesi, who had only just arrived. He produced a promising slalom in his first minute on the pitch, but then practically disappeared.

In the 75th minute Mantova scored. Luca Pellegrini lost the ball on the left, Davide Bragantini raced forward and put in a good cross, Adam Marusic and Danilho Doekhi watched as Mandas tried to intervene but missed the ball allowing Francesco Ruocco a simple tap in.

Night fell on Lazio.

There was no energy left, no ideas and no reaction. Mantova defended their lead comfortably, and in the sixth minute of injury time they made it 2-0. Bragantini again provided the assist, this time for Ismael Cajazzo, who finished into an empty goal after Mandas had gone forward for the final corner.

Mantova quite rightly celebrated their first victory in their history against Lazio while the Biancocelesti were left staring at an embarrassing early exit from the Coppa Italia.

Dark times await.

Official SS Lazio photo

Who played for Lazio

Mandas, Marusic, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Pedraza (62' Pellegrini), Dele-Bashiru (71' Frattesi), Rovella (80' Belahyane), Taylor, Cancellieri (80' Noslin), Dia (71' Ratkov), Zaccagni

Substitutes: Motta, Renzetti, Galassi, Floriani, Przyborek, Lazzari, R. Bordon, Serra, Farcomeni

Manager: Gattuso

Who played for Mantova

Bardi, Tomasevic (56' Meroni), Cella, Catellini, Silva (56' Cajazzo), Trimboli, Ignacchiti (74' Longonda), Benaissa (85' Wieser), Ilie (56' Bragantini), Ruocco; Gliozzi

Substitutes: Gemello, Gasparini, Bayou, Keita, Paoletti, Marai, Banna, Chinetti

Manager: Modesto

Referee: Mucera

Goals: 5' Ruocco, 90+6' Cajazzo