May 16, 2022: Juventus Lazio 2-2

Lazio Stories
3 days ago
9 min read

Europe is conquered

Lazio draw with Juventus and qualify for the Europa League

Non Lazio Manager of the day: Massimiliano Allegri

Also on this day:

May 16, 1976, Como Lazio 2-2. Down 2-0 after 17 minutes, Lazio manage to equalise thanks to Giordano and Badiani and avoid relegation. A miracle.
May 16, 1965, Lazio Incedit Foggia 2-1. With a fundamental win against Foggia, Lazio leave the relegation zone.

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.

Lazio had budget problems and could not invest too much on new players: in came Mattia Zaccagni, Pedro, Toma Basic, Elsied Hysaj, Luka Romero and the return of Felipe Anderson. Senad Lulic and Marco Parolo did not have their contracts extended and Lazio also said goodbye to Joaquin Correa and Felipe Caicedo.

The season started well with two wins but then became very inconsistent. Great wins (Inter, Roma), great collapses (Bologna, Verona, Napoli), completely incapable of finding some kind of happy medium. Whereas from an attacking point of view the team were doing well, they were terrible defensively, from the goalkeeper to the central defenders but the midfield was also to blame, unable to give sufficient cover. Some players adapted perfectly to the new system (Ciro Immobile was scoring more than ever, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was having his best season at Lazio), others were having problems (Luis Alberto, Francesco Acerbi, Luiz Felipe, Manuel Lazzari). But Sarri did warn everybody that the first season was going to be a transitional one, and that it was preparatory for 2022-23.

The Europa League Group stage was determined by an incredible howler by Thomas Strakosha which cost Lazio the match against Galatasaray. This undermined the rest of the tournament and Lazio arrived second in their group and would play Porto in the playoff. Despite showing that potentially the Biancocelesti were the better team, they lost in Portugal 2-1 due to defensive errors and only managed to draw 2-2 at home.

In Coppa Italia, the Biancocelesti struggled at home against Udinese and only won in extra time. The quarter final, played a few days before the Bologna game, against Milan was a disaster with Lazio having another one of their black outs. They lost 4-0 and were eliminated.

The Biancocelesti were currently fifth. The Champions League bus had long gone, but there was still a concrete chance to qualify for the Europa League. Lazio were three points ahead of Atalanta who had already played their game. One point was all the Biancocelesti needed to allow them to get to the group phase directly.

The match: Monday, May 16, 2022, Allianz Stadium, Turin

With Ciro Immobile injured, Maurizio Sarri put Jovane Cabral in the centre of the attack in a game where all the Biancocelesti needed was a point in order to secure the qualification for next year’s Europa League. It was the last game for idols Giorgio Chiellini and Paulo Dybala in Turin with the Bianconero jersey. It was the first time in ten years that Juve would not win a title, but the stadium was packed.

Lazio started well and in the 5th minute hit a crossbar with a Danilo Cataldi shot from outside the box after a one-two with Mattia Zaccagni. The good start was however short lived. In the 10th minute Alvaro Morata crossed from the left and Dusan Vlahovic, completely forgotten by the Biancoceleste defence, in solitude headed the ball past Thomas Strakosha.

In the 16th minute Felipe Anderson had a chance off a Juan Cuadrado clearance but his shot from outside the penalty area was wide. A minute later Chiellini left the pitch to a standing ovation and was substituted by Matthijs de Ligt.

Lazio attacked looking for an equaliser. On the half hour Sergej Milinkovic-Savic entered the box surrounded by defenders but managed to cross low for Cabral who was unable to make contact with the ball and Felipe Anderson was blocked by Mattia Perin.

In the 36th minute Morata made it two. He received the ball from Cuadrado on the left in the box, moved towards the edge and let go a curling shot that beat Strakosha. Wonderful goal.

In the 51st minute Lazio halved the deficit. Cataldi took a corner, Patric tried a header which was deflected by Alex Sandro into his own net and strangely it was considered an own goal.

Sarri took off Cabral and in came Pedro.

Ten minutes later free kick for the Biancocelesti. Cataldi crossed into the box, Francesco Acerbi tried a header, Perin parried.

Three substitutions for Juve: in came Luca Pellegrini, Moise Kean and Marley Aké, out went Morata, Vlahovic and Manuel Locatelli.

In the 70th minute Bernardeschi crossed from the left, Moise Kean with an acrobatic volley shaved the post.

Lazio sent in Toma Basic and Lucas Leiva for Luis Alberto and Cataldi. Massimiliano Allegri allowed Dybala to have a standing ovation substituting him with Martin Palumbo. Later Stefan Radu took Manuel Lazzari’s place.

With just seconds left, Patric went off on the counter attack. Ball to Basic who reached the edge of the box and tried a shot, Perin managed to parry but Milinkovic-Savic from a seemingly impossible angle managed to tap the ball in and give Lazio both the draw and the qualification for the Europa League.

Who played for Juventus

Perin, Cuadrado, Bonucci, Chiellini (16' De Ligt), Alex Sandro, Miretti, Locatelli (61' Aké), Bernardeschi, Dybala (78' Palumbo), Morata (61' Pellegrini), Vlahovic (61' Kean)

Substitutes: Szczęsny, Pinsoglio, Rugani, Rabiot

Manager: Allegri

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Lazzari (84' Radu), Patric, Acerbi, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (76' Leiva), Luis Alberto (76' Basic), Felipe Anderson, Cabral (52' Pedro), Zaccagni

Substitutes: Reina, Adamonis, Luiz Felipe, Akpa Akpro, Kamenovic, Romero, Hysaj, Moro

Manager: Sarri

Referee: Ayroldi

Goals: 10' Vlahovic, 36' Morata, 51' Alex Sandro (og), 90'+5' Milinkovic-Savic

What happened next

The draw at home in the final game against Verona allowed Lazio to stay ahead of Roma so all in all it was a positive first season.

The player with most appearances was Felipe Anderson (48) and the top goal scorer was obviously Immobile with 32 goals. He was the top scorer in Serie A for the fourth time, the first Italian player ever to achieve such a feat.

Let's talk about Massimiliano Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri was born in Livorno on August 11, 1967.

He started his professional career with Cuoiopelli (Santa Croce sull'Arno) in 1984-85 in the Interregionale league (4th tier). He played 7 league games before returning to his hometown.

He joined Livorno in 1985 in C1 and stayed three seasons. He played little in the first two but then played 23 league games in his third. The Amaranto finished 14th, 12th and 14th. In 1987 they won the Serie C Coppa Italia. One of his teammates was future Lazio, Igor Protti (1996-97, 1998).

In 1988 he moved just up the road to bitter rivals Pisa in Serie A. The Nerazzurri were relegated and Allegri only played 2 league games.

In 1989 he returned to Livorno, now known as Pro Livorno and in C2. The "Triglie" (Mullets) finished 10th and Allegri played 32 league games with 8 goals. He played alongside former Lazio, Leonardo Surro (1981-83).

In the 1990-91 season he was at Pavia in C1. He played 29 league games with 5 goals and the Azzurri finished 9th.

In 1991 he joined Pescara in Serie B and stayed two seasons. In the first the Dolphins won promotion under Giovanni Galeone but in the second were relegated, again under Galeone and then former Lazio player, Vincenzo Zucchini (1979-80). Allegri made 64 appearances with 16 goals (12 in A, including Lazio home and away, Juventus x2 and Roma) and 1 game in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. His teammates included Lazio connections Paolo Monelli (1987-88) and Stefano Ferretti (1978-80, 1981-82).

In 1993 he signed for Cagliari in Serie A. He stayed two full seasons and the Rossoblu finished 12th and 9th. In 1993 the Islanders reached the UEFA semi-final (defeating Dinamo Bucharest, Trabzonspor, Malines, Juventus) but lost 3-5 on aggregate to Inter. He played 46 league games with 4 goals, 1 game in Coppa Italia and 4 in the UEFA Cup with 1 goal (Malines). His Managers were Gigi Radice for one game, Bruno Giorgi and Óscar Tabarez. His teammates included Lazio connections Valerio Fiori (1986-93), Dario Marcolin (1992-93,1995-99, 1999-2000), Beppe Pancaro (1997-2003) and Roberto Muzzi (2003-05).

In November 1995 after 2 more league games for Cagliari he left and joined Perugia in Serie B. The Umbri won promotion under Walter Novellino, Diego Giannattasio and then Walter Galeone. The following year Allegri stayed until January but left after Galeone had been sacked. In Perugia he played 44 league games with 20 goals (15 in B and 5 in A) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia.

In January 1996 he joined Padova in Serie B. He played 15 league games under former Lazio manager Giuseppe Materazzi and the Patavini finished 15th. One of his teammates was Lazio legend Cristiano Bergodi (1989-1996). The following year he stayed on but then left in December after 6 league games.

In December 1997 he joined Napoli in Serie A. The manager was Giovanni Galeone until early February and then Vincenzo Montefusco and the Partenopei were relegated. Allegri played 7 league games. His teammates included Lazio connections Raffaele Sergio (1989-92), Massimiliano Esposito (1995-96), Igor Protti again and Guglielmo Stendardo (2005-08, 2009-12).

In 1998 Allegri returned to Pescara in Serie B. The Adriatici finished 5th and 13th. He played 36 league games with 4 goals and 2 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. In his second season the manager was Giovanni Galeone again.

In 2000 he went back to Tuscany and joined Pistoiese in Serie B. He played 18 league games with 1 goal and 2 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. His managers were Giuseppe Pillon, former Lazio player and future manager Domenico Caso and then Walter Nicoletti. The "Olandesina" finished 16th. In Pistoia he played briefly with future 2006 World Champion Andrea Barzagli (later a player under Allegri at Juventus).

His last club was Aglianese from November 2001. The Neroverdi won promotion to C2 and the following year finished 8th. Allegri played 32 league games with 8 goals.

He then retired at 35 but went straight into coaching.

He started where he had left off, at Aglianese in C2 finishing 13th.

He then had spells at SPAL (2004-05, C1, 9th place), Grosseto (2005-Oct 2006, C1, 4th), Sassuolo (2007-08, C1, 1st and C Supercoppa), Cagliari (2008-Apr 2010, A, 9th).

In 2010 came his big chance at the top level when he joined Milan. He stayed three and a half seasons. The Rossoneri finished 1st (Scudetto), 2nd, 3rd and in January 2014 he was sacked with Milan in 12th place. He also won an Italian Supercoppa in 2011, defeating Inter 2-1.

In 2014 he made a surprise move to Juventus. He stayed almost eight seasons. He won 5 consecutive league titles, the Coppa Italia 5 times (with 4 doubles) and the Italian Supercoppa twice. In 2015 and 2017 the Bianconeri reached the finals of Champions League but lost to Barcelona 1-3 and Real Madrid 1-4. In his eighth season he was sacked with two games to go and the Bianconeri in joint 3rd place with Bologna and having just won the Coppa Italia (Atalanta 1-0).

He is currently waiting for another working opportunity.

As a player Allegri was an attacking midfielder but later in his career he moved further back. He is 1.83 and 75 kilos but was nicknamed "Acciuga" (Anchovy) for his slimness. He was a dynamic player but with good technical skills and shooting abilities. He possessed a good footballing brain and was considered a leader in the teams he played for. The general consensus however among football managers and pundits is that he could have achieved more as a player than he did had he been less light-hearted and easy going.

What he possibly did not achieve as a player he certainly has as a coach. He has won 6 league titles, the Coppa Italia five times, the Italian Supercoppa three times and reached two Champions League finals. He is considered a master at adapting his game to the players he has in the squad. In his more recent years with Juventus however he was often criticised for being too conservative, prioritising the result over the quality of performances. Allegri himself a keen horseracing often used racing expressions to justify this approach. Since 2019 he even owns his own horse racing stables and team.