Winning trip to Côte d'Azur

Dag Jenkins
Jul 30, 2023
3 min read

Season 2013-14

Pre Season Friendly

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Stade Municipal du Ray, Nice

Nice Lazio 0-1

A Klose goal clinches friendly in Nice

This was Lazio’s sixth pre-season friendly. The Biancocelesti had beaten Auronzo 11-0, Brazil Soccer Team 4-1, Top 11 Radio Club 103 8-0, Spezia 3-0 but had lost 0-1 to Siena on July 30, so the previous day. Two friendlies in two days plus travel didn't seem ideal but that was the plan.

Lazio had the Supercoppa against Juventus on August 18 while the league would start a week later on August 25 at home to Udinese.

The match

An 8 p.m kick-off on the Côte d'Azur and the temperature was bearable. It was one of the last games to be played at the Stade de Ray as in September the new 50,000-seater Allianz Arena was opening.

Lazio played with mainly regulars. The only potential first team players on the bench were Hernanes, Antonio Candreva and Álvaro González. Federico Marchetti was making his season debut after his Italy duties in the Confederations Cup.

Lazio midfielder Ederson received a warm welcome back in Nice where he had played three seasons. The home fans had also prepared a banner for him.

The French should have been fitter as their first league game was only a week away but it was not visible. Lazio used the wings well with Stefano Mauri and Abdoulay Konko on one side and Senad Lulic on the other. Nice pressed high but Lazio had two early chances with an Ederson header and then a Mauri effort.

In the 20th minute Lazio scored. Konko went past Amavi and put in a perfect cross for Miroslav Klose who headed past David Ospina. Nice 0 Lazio 1.

At this point the hosts increased the tempo and pushed for an equaliser. They forced a series of corners and had a powerful Cvitanovich shot deflected just over the bar by Diego Novaretti.

Lazio then scored again with Lucas Biglia but it was disallowed for a dubious offside position.

The half ended with an almost brawl after Cvitanich went in roughly and late on Lulic.

The French made two substitutions at half time while Lazio waited another ten minutes or so before beginning to make the customary numerous changes in these summer friendlies.

In the second half Lazio slowed the rhythm down and Nice had their biggest chance. On the counter attack Cvitanich found himself unmarked in the area but Marchetti pulled off an excellent save.

Soon after the Lazio keeper denied Amavi from scoring with a header.

Lazio meanwhile continued to link up well despite not creating any clear-cut chances.

The changes came frequently and in the 63rd minute Lazio put on Candreva and Hernanes, definitely two regular starters, for Konko and Cristian Ledesma.

In the 72nd minute replacing Biglia for Michaël Ciani meant Lazio passed to a three-man defence.

Apart from the replacements the game saw some late action when Luis Pedro Cavanda saved the possible equaliser on the goal line. Final score Nice 0 Lazio 1.

A comforting evening for Lazio after the bad defeat at Siena. Apart from the satisfaction of the win, the team had looked sharp, defended well and welcomed back several of the stars.

Who played for Nice

Ospina, Palun (46' Pejcinovic), Digard, Kołodziejczak, Amavi, Traore (65' Rafetraniaina), Mendy, Pied (65' Bosetti), Eysseric (46' Bruins), Cvitanich (77' Constant)

Manager: Puel

Who played for Lazio

Marchetti (58' Bizzarri), Konko (63' Candreva), Novaretti, Cana, Radu, Biglia (72' Ciani), Ledesma (63' Hernanes), Mauri (72' González), Ederson (46' Floccari), Lulic (84' Rozzi), Klose (57' Cavanda)