Champions League dream continues

Dag Jenkins
Apr 29, 2024
4 min read

Season 2017-18

Game 35, Serie A

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Stadio Olimpico, Turin

Torino-Lazio 0-1

A header by Milinkovic-Savic keeps Lazio in driving seat for coveted 4th place finish

In Serie A the Biancocelesti had played 34 games and won 20 (including Milan 4-1 and Sassuolo 6-1 both at home, an epic 2-1 away win at Juventus with Thomas Strakosha saving a Paulo Dybala 94th minute penalty), drawn 7 (including SPAL at home on debut and second derby both 0-0) and lost 7 (including first derby 1-2 and Torino 1-3 at home). Lazio came from four wins and a draw in the last 5 games and were unbeaten in the last 7. The Biancocelesti were currently joint 3rd, on 67 points with Roma and one ahead of Inter (top 4 went into Champions League).

Torino were currently 10th on 47 points. Since Mazzarri's appointment Toro had won 6 (including Inter 1-0 at home), drawn 4 (including Milan 1-1 at home) and lost 5 (including derby 0-1 and most recently Atalanta 1-2 away).

This evening in Serie A Lazio had more motivation as they were pushing for a Champions League qualification while Torino were in mid-table limbo. The Granata nevertheless were a decent team and it would not be easy.

The match

A crowd of just under 20,000 turned up for this Sunday 8.45 p.m kick-off. At least 1,000 had made the trip up from Rome.

Lazio had to do without injured midfielder Marco Parolo while Torino were missing defender Cristian Ansaldi plus midfielders Alejandro Berenguer and Joel Obi.

Lazio had a chance immediately as after only 35 seconds Alessandro Murgia presented himself in front of Salvatore Sirigu on the left but the Sardinian keeper came off his line and the Roman midfielder hit it straight at him instead of possibly trying a chip.

Torino responded with a shot by Adem Ljajic over the bar and a Simone Edera effort but Thomas Strakosha saved well. The Albanian keeper did even better a few minutes later to parry away a powerful Lorenzo De Silvestri strike.

The next important moment was in the 14th minute but unfortunately it was not a goal or even a scoring chance but an injury. Ciro Immobile pulled up and limped off with a muscular injury and was replaced by Ecuadorian Felipe Caicedo. Lazio's top scorer went off in tears knowing his season was over.

Without Immobile the Biancocelesti had a period where they seemed a little disorientated and Torino had a double Ljajic chance.

In the 23rd minute however Lazio were awarded a penalty. On a good pass from Stefan de Vrij, Serb Sergej Milimkovic-Savic was obstacled unfairly by defender Nicolas Nkoulou. With Immobile out injured the responsibility fell to Luis Alberto but the Andalusian was hypnotised by Sirigu who even managed to hold onto the ball. A very poor spotkick by the "mago".

Lazio insisted and had a Lucas Leiva shot cleared near the goal line by Emiliano Moretti. Murgia then tried his luck from long range but his shot was central and Sirigu was ready. Halftime 0-0.

After a difficult start and some setbacks Lazio had grown into the game.

After the break Stefan Radu did not reappear, he too was the victim of a muscular problem and replaced by Marin Cáceres.

In the 55th minute Sirigu was outstanding on a low Leiva volley but on the subsequent corner Lazio scored. In the 56th minute Luis Alberto swung in a corner from the left and Milinkovic-Savic rose up near the front post and headed past Sirigu, 0-1.

In the 62nd minute the hosts tried to increase their attacking threat by putting on Iago Falque and taking off Edera.

Torino had little reaction and Lazio could have doubled their lead several times but a Caicedo lob was poor especially with Luis Alberto free in the middle and then the striker from Guayaquil was denied by a Sirigu save with his feet. Milinkovic-Savic then almost got his brace but his volley went wide after a spectacular one-two with Leiva.

In the 75th minute Toro threw caution to the wind and replaced midfielder Tomás Rincon with another forward M'Baye Niang. Three minutes later, in the 78th, Lazio took precautions by bringing on Jordan Lukaku for a subdued Luis Alberto.

Torino now attacked full force but were unable to seriously test Strakosha. In fact it was Lazio who went close again but Murgia was wasteful.

The last minutes were played with Torino pumping balls into the area and the whole Lazio bench standing nervously awaiting the final whistle. Despite the pressure Torino had no real chances and after four minutes of added time the referee blew up. Full-time: Torino 0 Lazio 1.

A deserved and important win for the Biancocelesti. They had lost Immobile to injury and missed a penalty but still found a way to win.

In the second half especially they had dominated and could have won by a wider margin.

A great win for Lazio who with three games to go had a four-point lead over Inter who had lost 2-3 at home to Juventus. Things were looking good. The table read: Juventus 88, Napoli 84, Lazio and Roma 70, Inter 66

Torino's position remained unchanged in 10th, on 47 points. The Granata were in a classic limbo as they were 7 points behind 9th placed Sampdoria and 6 points above 11th placed Genoa.

Who played for Torino

Sirigu, N'koulou, Burdisso, Moretti, De Silvestri, Rincon (76' Niang), Baselli, Molinaro, Ljajic, Edera (62' Iago Falque), Belotti

Substitutes: V. Milinkovic -Savic, Ichazo, Bonifazi, Ferigra, Acquah, Valdifiori, Kone, Adopo

Manager: Mazzarri

Who played for Lazio

Strakosha, Luiz Felipe, de Vrij, Radu (46' Cáceres), Marusic, Murgia, Leiva, S.Milinkovic-Savic, Lulic, Luis Alberto (78' Lukaku), Immobile (14' Caicedo)