Fundamental three points
Updated: Sep 23
Game 18, Serie A
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Mapei Stadium, Reggio Emilia
Sassuolo Lazio 0-2
Lazio manage to beat Sassuolo in a fundamental game for their ambitions. Immobile injured again.
The teams
Maurizio Sarri made just one change compared to the previous week substituting Manuel Lazzari, suspended, with Eliseid Hysaj. Ciro Immobile had had a few problems during the week but was ready to play. Lazio, one point in the last three games, desperately needed these three points if they were to maintain Champions League ambitions.
The match
Sassuolo led off the dance with a chance in the 2nd minute. Armand Laurientè received the ball just inside the penalty box on the far left, moved towards the centre and shot. Ball was deflected off Danilo Cataldi into corner.
In the fifth minute Cataldi to Mattia Zaccagni on the left just outside the box. His shot was saved by Gianluca Pegolo and Felipe Anderson’s tap in attempt went sky high.
In the 15th minute Immobile had to be substituted due to injury. In comes Pedro.
Nothing of any significance happened until the final minutes of the first half. In the 43rd minute Laurientè’s shot was well saved by Ivan Provedel, the ball in some way got to Davide Frattesi who shot but Provedel saved again.
A minute later Pedro had a chance but his shot was parried by Martin Erlic. Luis Alberto took the consequent corner, ball to Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on the far post who headed the ball towards the goal, Jeremy Toljan had his arms in the air and saved, but it was handball and penalty. Zaccagni took the spot kick and it's 1-0 for Lazio.
In the second half the match was very open but despite the fact that it was Sassuolo who had the greater percentage of possession, Lazio were the more dangerous team. In the 60th minute Milinkovic-Savic in the box on the right sent the ball to the centre, Felipe Anderson again shot way too high. Five minutes later Zaccagni to Luis Alberto on the left. The Spaniard saw his fellow countryman Pedro running towards the centre of the box, ball to him but the former Barcelona player shot wide.
And Sassuolo? The only substantial chance they had is in the 76th minute. Domenico Berardi took a corner, Frattesi had a colossal chance but he headed the ball over the crossbar.
In the 84th minute Adam Marusic had a chance but his shot was just wide. Sassuolo increased pressure on the Lazio defence but unlike the previous games, the Biancocelesti were in total control.
In the fourth minute of injury time, Provedel sent the ball over the halfway line to Milinkovic-Savic. The Serb’s header went towards the edge of the box, Ruan Tressoldi fell asleep and allowed Felipe Anderson to anticipate him. The Brazilian ran off and once inside the box dribbled Pegolo and deposited the ball in the net. 2-0 for Lazio and game over.
Good win for the Biancocelesti. Fingers crossed for Immobile.
Who played for Sassuolo
Pegolo, Toljan, Erlic (85' Ferrari), Tressoldi, Rogerio, Frattesi, Obiang (54' Lopez), Traoré (69' Thorstvedt), Berardi, Alvarez (54' Defrel), Laurienté (69' Ceide)
Substitutes: Zacchi, Russo, Muldur, Marchizza, Kyriakopoulos, Ayhan, Henrique, Harroui, Lopez, Ceide, Antiste
Manager: Dionisi
Who played for Lazio
Provedel, Hysaj, Casale (89' Patric), Romagnoli, Marusic, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (79' Vecino), Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson, Immobile (15' Pedro), Zaccagni
Substitutes: Maximiano, Adamonis, Radu, Fares, Marcos Antonio, Basic, Cancellieri, Romero
Manager: Sarri
Referee: Pairetto
Goals: 45'+3' Zaccagni (pen), 90'+4' Felipe Anderson
Bookings: Casale, Toljan, Cataldi, Tressoldi, Rogerio, Hysaj , Erlic.
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