SpecTatylar!!!
- Simon Basten
- Sep 1
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 15
Game 2, Serie A
Sunday, August 31, 2025
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Lazio Verona 4-0
Lazio demolish Verona thanks to a goal and two marvellous assists from Taty Castellanos
The team
Two changes for Maurizio Sarri compared to the away game at Como: in came Adam Marusic for Manuel Lazzari and Nicolò Rovella for Danilo Cataldi. A little more logical.
Lazio had not won at the Olimpico since February 9 against Monza. A long time. And following the dismal performance on Lake Como the previous week, were called to a considerable improvement.
First half
It took the Biancocelesti just three minutes to score. Splendid long ball from Rovella to Taty Castellanos in the box slightly left, he controlled it and saw that Matteo Guendouzi was racing towards the penalty area. Pass to the Frenchman who, with a clinical, slow, but precise shot, gave Lazio the lead.
Taty not content with the good assist, then came up with a masterpiece in the 10th minute. Mattia Zaccagni on the left, he passed to Castellanos asking for a one-two, rabona from Taty back to the Lazio skipper, 2-0.
One could not really ask for a better start.
Verona in shock. Not that they had made much of an effort so far but the Biancocelesti had wiped them away.
Lazio slowly reduced the pressure and made a few mistakes in midfield allowing Verona a little bit of a chance. In the 29th minute Domagoj Bradaric crossed from the left, Rovella cleared, ball to Antoine Bernède who tried a volley from outside the box but hit the woodwork. The ball eventually arrived to Guendouzi who lost it, Amin Sarr passed centrally to Giovane but his shot was too central and Ivan Provedel parried.
In the 41st minute free kick on the right for Lazio. Rovella crossed, Lorenzo Montipò completely mistimed his intervention and Castellanos headed the ball in for the 3-0.
Second half
In the interval Verona changed three players: in came Martin Frese, Ali Emusrati and Armel Bella-Kotchap, out went Enzo Ebosse, Abdou Harroui and Fallou Cham.
Lazio however continued to push for a fourth. In the 48th minute Zaccagni headed the ball out on a Rovella corner. In the 53rd, Suat Serdar had a good chance inside the box but his shot was too high. Three minutes later Lazio should have made it four. Rovella again with a perfect pass for Matteo Cancellieri in front of Montipò but his first stop was not good and as the keeper came out he shot the ball over the crossbar. Zaccagni had another chance in the 57th minute but he went too far forward in the box and his attempt close to the byline on the left was saved by the keeper. Two minutes later Castellanos shaved the post with a long-distance shot.
In the 67th minute Verona had three chances in the same play. Giovane’s shot was walled by Marusic, Unai Núñez beat Fisayo Dele- Bashiru but his attempt was stopped by Oliver Provstgaard, Elmusrati from outside the box passed to Bernède inside but his shot went wide. All three chances very close to Provedel.
At this point Sarri took off Zaccagni and Nuno Tavares and in came Pedro and Luca Pellegrini. In the 68th minute the left back had a marvellous chance when Pedro in the box made an excellent pass but his shot was too high. Two more substitutions: in came Boulaye Dia and Reda Belahyane, out Castellanos and Dele-Bashiru.
In the 82nd minute Belahyane to Pellegrini for the one-two, cross in the middle from the byline and Dia made it 4-0. Game over.
Lazio played well, aggressive, did not let the Gialloblu do very much but one could argue that this Verona was probably too weak for the Biancocelesti. Do we care? Not much!!!
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Marusic (85' Hysaj), Gila, Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares (66' Pellegrini), Guendouzi, Rovella, Dele-Bashiru (78' Belahyane), Cancellieri, Castellanos (78' Dia), Zaccagni (66' Pedro)
Substitutes: Mandas, Furlanetto, Noslin, Basic, Lazzari, Cataldi
Manager: Sarri
Who played for Verona
Montipò, Nuñez, Nelsson, Ebosse (46' Frese), Cham (46' Bella Kotchap), Serdar, Bernede (69' Belghali), Bradaric, Harroui (46' Al Musrati); Giovane, Sarr (77' Mosquera)
Substitutes: Perilli, Toniolo, Oyegoke, Slotsager, Kastanos, Niasse, Ajayi, , Vermesan
Manager: Zanetti
Referee: Crezzini
Goals: 3' Guendouzi, 9' Zaccagni, 41' Castellanos, 81' Dia
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