Game 2, Serie A
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Spezia 6-1
Lazio demolish Spezia after falling behind giving a taste of future Sarriball, hopefully
The season so far
The planning of the 2021-22 season practically started only a few days after the end of the previous one. Simone Inzaghi, Claudio Lotito and Igli Tare met in the evening of May 23 to discuss the manager’s contract renewal. By the very early hours of the 24th all was settled: Inzaghi would sign another contract with Lazio and was expected at the club headquarters the next morning. This is what he told his closest collaborators as well as a few players.
What was really happening? Apparently Inzaghi was buying time, faking a possible renewal with Lazio while at the same time negotiating a deal with Inter. On the morning of the 24th, Simone called Lotito to basically say “sorry, ain’t coming in this morning, gonna sign with Inter”. A shock for Lazio who really did not expect to lose Inzaghi. Apparently Inzaghi and Tare had even spoken about the summer transfers. Everything had been agreed. Lazio had to start from scratch.
Lotito at this point had to decide what to do. So he chose change, drastic change, both in mentality and professionalism: in came Maurizio Sarri. This meant moving from the Inzaghi classic 3-5-2 formation to 4-3-3, a BIG change.
Today was only the second match of the season. In the first Lazio had come from behind and won 3-1 at Empoli.
The match
Spezia started strongly and went ahead after only four minutes. Emmanuel Gyasi ran down the left wing, entered the box and tried a shot which Pepe Reina parried exactly in the direction of Daniele Verde who had an open goal chance and did not miss. Lazio trailing just like the previous game but just like the previous game they quickly turned the game around.
One minute later Pedro to Ciro Immobile in the penalty area centre right, chip under the ball and it was 1-0. Another ten minutes and Immobile scored his brace. Felipe Anderson from the left, ball to Luis Alberto just outside the box, pass to Immobile, big shot, 2-1 for the Biancocelesti.
Pedro had a couple of chances in the 18th and 31st minute but both times his shots were saved by Jeroen Zoet.
After 25 minutes Manuel Lazzari was forced off and replaced by Adam Marusic.
In the 44th minute Pedro was fouled in the box by Martin Elric. VAR were called into action and it was a penalty to Lazio. Immobile was ready for his hattrick but Zoet did not agree and saved into corner. Not to worry. Luis Alberto took the corner kick, long ball over the keeper’s head and onto the far post where King Ciro got his revenge. Lazio 3 Spezia 1.
The second half opened like the first half had closed, that is, with another Lazio goal. Reina with the ball, long pass to Felipe Anderson who lobbed over Kelvin Amian and ran forward unmarked to score his first goal for the club since his return.
In the 54th minute almost exactly the same play. Reina to Felipetto who tried to run off but was grabbed and pulled down by Amian. Red card inevitable.
The game quietened down now but came to life suddenly in the 70th minute when Luis Alberto put the ball into the gap in the Spezia defence, Elseid Hysaj went for it, resisted the return of Luca Vignali and made no mistake.
Having provided three assists during this game, it was only right that Luis Alberto had a chance to score and he did just that in the 85th minute when from inside the box Raul Moro saw his compatriot on the edge and dead central, ball to the magician who closed the set 6-1.
Good game for Lazio, things are looking promising.
Who played for Lazio
Reina, Lazzari (25’ Marusic), Patric, Acerbi, Hysaj, Milinkovic-Savic (71’ Cataldi), Leiva, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson (81’ Romero), Immobile (81’ Muriqi), Pedro (70’ Moro).
Substitutes: Strakosha, Adamonis, Radu, Vavro, Akpa Akpro, Escalante, Basic
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Spezia
Zoet, Nikolaou, Erlic, Vignali (80' Antiste), Amian, S. Bastoni, Maggiore, Ferrer, Verde (59' Hristov), Gyasi, E. Colley (59' Mraz)
Substitutes: Sala, Kovalenko, Podgoreanu, Zovko, Provedel
Manager: Thiago Motta
Referee: Dionisi
Goals: 4’ Verde, 5’ Immobile, 15’ Immobile, 45+2’ Immobile, 47’ Felipe Anderson, 70’ Hysaj, 85’ Luis Alberto
Sources
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