Simon Basten
- Mar 10
- 5 min read

March 10, 2019: Fiorentina Lazio 1-1

Should have been a win

Lazio scored in the first half and had numerous chances, but they let the Viola in the door and were punished.

Also on this day: March 10, 1974, Lazio Cesena 2-0. Despite missing vital players, Lazio easily beat Cesena with goals from Chinaglia and Nanni in the first half. Lazio Hero of the day: Franco Nanni

The season so far

The previous season Lazio had been heavily penalised by the introduction of the VAR. The referees took it in turns to not use it when Lazio played or to use it in the wrong way. But Lazio had played well and, as usual, just missed out of Champions League qualification, arriving fifth, losing the decisive match at home against Inter.

The star signings of the summer were Francesco Acerbi, who took the place in the centre of defence left vacant by Stefan De Vrij who had gone to Inter as a free agent refusing to sign a new contract for Lazio, and Joaquin Correa, exciting Argentinian player from Sevilla, who substituted Felipe Anderson sold to West Ham United. Other signings included Riza Durmisi (Betis), Valon Berisha (Salzburg), free agents Silvio Proto and Milan Badelj plus the return of Danilo Cataldi from his loan at Benevento. Also leaving were Davide Di Gennaro (loan to Salernitana), Ivan Vargic (loan, Anorthosis), Nani (end of loan, Valencia), Filip Djordjevic (end of contract) and Luca Crecco (Pescara).

So far, the season had been a little bit disappointing. Lazio were currently fifth together with Roma, who they had just beaten 3-0, three points away from Inter, fourth. Unable to come to terms with the bigger teams, Lazio also occasionally struggled with the smaller ones. The star players such as Luis Alberto and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic were not playing up to par. They were trying to keep the Champions League qualification dream alive, but it would certainly not be easy.

In Europa League Lazio came second in their group behind Eintracht Frankfurt but were knocked out in the round of 32 by Sevilla, also due to being denied an obvious penalty, which could have been a game changer, in the return match. VAR was yet to be introduced for the European competition.

In Coppa Italia, the Biancocelesti had beaten Novara 4-1 in the round of 32, and Inter away on penalties in the quarter final. They had played the first semi-final leg at home against Milan and had drawn 0-0. The return game would take place at the end of April.

The match: Sunday, March 10, 2019, Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence

Lazio immediately took the initiative but the first chance arrived in the 21st minute. Joaquin Correa on the left passed in the middle to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Classic movement in the box from Ciro Immobile and ball to him. King Ciro controlled it, turned around and shot, Pietro Terracciano managed to get a finger tip to the ball and send it onto the post. Two minutes later the Biancocelesti on the counter attack, Correa to Immobile outside the box but central. Great curling shot, Fiorentina 0 Lazio 1.

In the 30th minute Adam Marusic on the right, ball in the box to Correa, back pass to Milinkovic-Savic, big whack, Terracciano saved. In the 39th Correa on the left deep into the area tried a shot that the Viola keeper parried not without difficulty. One minute to the interval, Patric tried a foray into the Fiorentina half, splendid ball to Immobile, Terracciano saved again.

In the second half Fiorentina woke up and started to press for an equaliser. In the 59th minute a Kevin Mirallas shot went very wide and two minutes later Muriel made it 1-1. Mirallas on the right went past Stefan Radu and crossed into the middle of the box, Luis Muriel got a touch, ball in the net. Immediately after Giovanni Simeone from the left on the counter attack sent in a great low cross that Mirallas kicked over the crossbar.

The match at this point petered out and neither team was particularly dangerous.

A missed opportunity for Lazio after a first half that had seen them have numerous chances.

Who played for Fiorentina

Terracciano, Milenkovic, Pezzella, Ceccherini (80' Hugo), Biraghi, Edimilson (46' Mirallas), Veretout, Benassi, Gerson, Muriel, Chiesa (36' Simeone).

Substitutes: Lafont, Brancolini, Hancko, Laurini, Dabo, Norgaard, Graiciar.

Manager Pioli

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Patric, Acerbi, Radu (83’ Bastos), Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Luis Alberto (74’ Romulo), Lulic (67’ Badelj), Correa, Immobile

Substitutes: Proto, Guerrieri, Luiz Felipe, Durmisi, Jordao, Cataldi, Parolo, Neto, Caicedo

Manager: Inzaghi

Referee: Orsato

Goals: 23’ Immobile, 61’ Muriel

What happened next

The Biancocelesti tried to keep the Champions League qualification dream alive for as long as possible, but surprise losses against Genoa and Spal away, plus the disastrous defeat at home against an already relegated Chievo, lessened the impact of great wins in the derby and away against Inter. Lazio effectively gave up after the home defeat against Atalanta with three matches still to go.

But there was glory.

In Coppa Italia, a second half goal from Correa in the second away leg against Milan was the passport for the final at the Stadio Olimpico against Atalanta.

The final was won by Lazio with goals from Milinkovic-Savic and Correa in the second half. Hence, Lazio qualified for the 2019-20 Europa League and the Super Coppa.

Francesco Acerbi was the player with most appearances (50 in all competitions), Ciro Immobile the top scorer (19).

Lazio 2018-19

Competition	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals scored
Serie A	38	17	8	13	56
Coppa Italia	5	3	2	-	8
Europa League	8	3	-	5	9
Total	51	23	10	18	73

Top five appearances

Player	Total	Serie A	Coppa Italia	Europa League
Acerbi	50	37	5	8
Immobile	46	36	5	5
Lulic	46	35	4	7
Correa	44	34	4	6
Strakosha	44	35	5	4

Top Five Goal Scorers

Player	Total	Serie A	Coppa Italia	Europa League
Immobile	19	15	3	1
Correa	9	5	2	2
Caicedo	9	8	-	1
Milinkovic-Savic	7	5	2	-
Parolo	6	4	-	2
Luis Alberto	6	4	1	1

Let’s talk about Rômulo

Rômulo Souza Orestes Caldeira, better known as Rômulo, was born in Pelotas, Brazil, on May 22, 1987.

After having played a few seasons in the Brazilian minor leagues, in 2009 he signed for Santo André in the first tier. The year after he was at Cruzeiro and played a few games for Atlético Paranaense on loan.

In June 2011 he signed for Fiorentina. He made 34 appearances in two years in Florence before moving to Verona in 2013. An exceptional year for him with 33 league games and six goals. Having dual Italian-Brazilian nationality he was called up for the Brazil World Cup to play for Italy. He made it to the final 23, but then backed out since he was not 100% and thought that somebody else might be fitter. He has never been called again since.

In the summer of 2014, he was loaned to Juventus with an option to buy. But it was a year full of injuries and he played very little, just 5 games. In 2015 he returned to Verona where he stayed another three years. The first in Serie A, with most of the season out due to injury, and a second in Serie B, with promotion. His third year saw Verona relegated again and he did not renew his contract.

In 2018 he signed for Genoa. After six months, he was loaned to Lazio with an option to buy. He immediately fitted in, loved the city, the club and his teammates. It was as if he had always been part of Lazio. He made 13 appearances, two in the victorious Coppa Italia campaign. Lazio beat Atalanta 2-0 at the Olimpico and even though he did not play in the final he was one of the protagonists in the semis against Milan.

Much to almost everyone's surprise, Lazio did not apply the option to buy and he went back to Genoa. In September he signed for Brescia for one year, at the end of which, not having reached an agreement with the club, he became a free agent.

In March 2021 he signed for Cruzeiro making 46 appearances until January 2023. His contract was not renewed and he is still looking for a club.

Rômulo is a very eclectic player. He can play on the right or left wing, defence, midfield and even further forward. It was a pity he did not stay on at Lazio, but since then he has become a fan and often posts on social media reminiscing about his days in Rome.