Resist and conquer

2023-24 Season

Game 25, Serie A

Thursday, February 22, 2024

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Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, Turin

Torino Lazio 0-2

After an embarrassing first half in which Torino could have scored at least a couple of goals, Lazio woke up in the second and in 6 minutes brought back the three points.

Official SS Lazio photo

The team

This match should have been played on January 21, but was postponed due to Lazio's participation in the Super Coppa.

With Patric, Matias Vecino, Nicolò Rovella and Mattia Zaccagni injured there is not much choice for Maurizio Sarri. Alessio Romagnoli is back in defence and Elseid Hysaj is chosen as left back.

A must win for Lazio if they want to get back in the Champions League race.

First half

In the fourth minute, the first chance for Torino. Bellanova from the right crossed in the box, Sanabria volleyed the ball onto the woodwork. In the 34th, another Bellanova cross, Duvan Zapata jumped higher than Mario Gila, but his header, from an excellent position, went wide. Two minutes later, again Raoul Bellanova on the left who ran into the box and from the byline crossed in the middle for Nikola Vlasic, an exceptional save by Ivan Provedel into corner. In the 43rd minute, Ivan Ilic took a corner, Adam Masina was free to head the ball but it went wide.

And Lazio? Just a lame shot from Ciro Immobile in the 20th minute and a counterattack where King Ciro was not able to pass the ball effectively to Felipe Anderson. That is all. Torino played well, but were helped by the awful performances from most of the Biancocelesti.

Second half

In the interval Manuel Lazzari substituted Hysaj, beaten once too many times by the speed of Bellanova and not in great physical shape.

But Torino continued to have chances. In the 47th minute Bellanova again from the left sent a dangerous ball into the box, Gila slipped, Zapata had the chance but his shot went out.

Lazio came alive for the first time in the match, or almost, in the 51th minute. Danilo Cataldi to Luis Alberto on the left, one-two with Felipe Anderson, splendid pass to Matteo Guendouzi on the right in the box, control, shot, Torino 0 Lazio 1.

Luis Alberto had up to then been the worst player on the pitch.

Two substitutions followed: Taty Castellanos for Immobile and Samuele Ricci for Illic.

In the 56th minute, Lazzari took a throw- in on the right, ball to Guendouzi close to the byline challenged by Ricci. Pass into the middle to Luis Alberto, backheel for the upcoming Cataldi, marvellous low shot, Torino 0 Lazio 2.

Game over. Torino never recovered from the Biancoceleste one-two.

There were more substitutions (Pedro for Gustav Isaksen, Adrian Tameze for Koffi Djidji and Gvidas Gineitis for Karol Linetty) and a double yellow card for Gila who was sent off in the 79th minute. Nicolò Casale hence substituted Luis Alberto. But, apart from a couple of Ricci attempts, this dismissal did not drastically change the momentum of the game.

Great win, great suffering, but Lazio held on and Luis Alberto did the rest.

Who played for Torino

Milinkovic-Savic, Djidji (74' Tameze), Lovato, Masina (85' Pellegri), Bellanova, Linetty (74' Gineitis), Ilic (55' Ricci), Lazaro; Vlasic, Sanabria, Zapata.

Substitutes: Gemello, Mihai, Rodriguez, Sazonov, Kabic, Okereke, Savva.

Manager: Juric.

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Hysaj (46' Lazzari), Guendouzi, Cataldi, Luis Alberto (80' Casale), Isaksen (74' Pedro), Immobile (55' Castellanos), Felipe Anderson.

Substitutes: Sepe, Pellegrini, Kamada, Andrè Anderson, Ruggeri, Coulibaly, Sana Fernandes.

Manager: Sarri

Referee: La Penna

Goals: 51’ Guendouzi, 56’ Cataldi

Booked: Ilic (T), Linetty (T), Gila (L), Lovato (T)

Sent off: Gila (L)