First real test

Simon Basten
Jul 22, 2023
2 min read

Updated: Jul 30

Season 2017-18

Pre Season Friendly

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Stadio Rodolfo Zandegiacomo, Auronzo di Cadore

Lazio Spal 2-0

Lazio beat Spal in a Serie A appetiser

Lazio were in their pre-season training period at Auronzo di Cadore. They had already played three friendlies and today was the fourth against Spal who were newly promoted to Serie A.

The match

Ciro Immobile seemed to be in great form already. He scored the first goal and had other chances including a spectacular acrobatic volley saved into corner by Alfred Gomis in the 6th minute. Another shot shortly after, following a great pass from Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, was again saved into corner by the keeper. Luis Alberto too also seemed in good shape, passing the ball around and inventing. A shot of his went very close to the post. Immobile again had a sitter in the 30th minute after a great assist from Alessandro Murgia but the ball was struck over towards the mountains. Then in the 44th minute he finally scored. Felipe Anderson on the counter attack, classic ball to King Ciro who went around the keeper and deposited the ball into the net.

Massive turnover in the second half and Alberto Paloschi had a chance but Ivan Vargic came out of the goal blocking any space and all the Spal forward could do was to shoot straight at him. Luiz Felipe had a chance on a Davide Di Gennaro freekick but could not get a good connection. Simone Palombi also had a chance after a Luca Crecco shot but his header went too high. In the 88th minute Luiz Felipe went down the left from his own half and like lightning ended up in the Spal box. Fouled from behind, hence penalty to Lazio. Keita Balde made it 2-0.

That closed the match and it all seemed good, but Simone Inzaghi was not happy, complaining about the lack of transfers.

Who played for Lazio

Vargic, Wallace (46’ Bastos), Hoedt (71’ Luiz Felipe), Radu (46’ de Vrij), Marusic (60’ Basta), Murgia (46’ Leiva), Luis Alberto (71’ Crecco), Milinkovic-Savic (60 Di Gennaro), Lulic (60’ Patric), Felipe Anderson (46’ Keita), Immobile (60’ Palombi)

Substitutes: Strakosha, Guerrieri, Mohamed, Parolo, Oikonomidis, Kishna, Lombardi, Djordjevic, Rossi

Manager: Inzaghi

Who played for Spal

Gomis, Oikonomou (55' Gasparetto), Cremonesi, Vicari (63' Polvani), Lazzari, Schiattarella (77' Bellemo), Viviani (46' Rizzo), Mora (66' Schiavon), Costa (dal 70′ Mattiello), Antenucci (dal 74′ Finotto), Floccari (46' Paloschi)

Substitutes: Marchegiani, Boccafoglia, Arini, Poluzzi, Artioli

Manager: Semplici

Referee: Marinelli

Goals: 44’ Immobile, 80’ Keita (pen)