True Grit
Updated: Oct 11
Game 3, Serie A
Monday, September 7, 2026
Bluenergy Stadium, Udine
Udinese Lazio 1-2
The Biancocelesti fall behind for the first time this Serie A season but fight back to beat Udinese 2-1, with Frattesi equalising before Guðmundsson snatches a dramatic late winner.
The team
Rino Gattuso made a few changes to the starting eleven, with Boulaye Dia, Petar Ratkov and Alessio Romagnoli all having gone to other clubs. Andrea Pinamonti led the attack, Gustav Isaksen was preferred to Matteo Cancellieri on the right, while Reda Belahyane replaced the injured Nicolò Rovella. Albert Guðmundsson, who had only just arrived, started on the bench.
First half
In the fourth minute, Lazio produced a splendid move. Kenneth Taylor nutmegged an Udinese defender before releasing Nuno Tavares, who raced into the box and attempted to cut the ball back from the byline. Oumar Solet intervened, however, deflecting it behind for a corner.
Five minutes later, Keinan Davis shot from inside the penalty area, but Christos Mandas did well to palm the ball away.
Udinese were unlucky with injuries. First Jakub Piotrowski and then Solet had to be substituted, with Lennon Miller and Christian Kabasele coming on.
There were few chances in the first half, but Lazio appeared to be in control, while Udinese rarely threatened. Mind you, neither did the Biancocelesti.
Second half
Unai Gómez made way for Vakoun Bayo at half-time.
Udinese started the second half much better than their visitors and took the lead in the 49th minute. Mergim Vojvoda sent a long ball forward from the left, and Davis produced a splendid pass to Jesper Karlström. Left unmarked by Taylor, the Swede found himself one-on-one with Mandas and made no mistake. Udinese were 1-0 up.
For the first time this Serie A season, Lazio found themselves behind. Gattuso reacted immediately, replacing Isaksen and Pinamonti with Cancellieri and Tijjani Noslin in the 53rd minute.
The Biancocelesti responded. Taylor tried his luck in the 56th minute, but his effort went narrowly wide.
In the 75th minute, Mattia Zaccagni dribbled past Vojvoda down the left, raced to the byline and delivered a superb low cross. Davide Frattesi met it with a volley and fired home the equaliser. It was his third consecutive goal.
Lazio were not content with a draw and continued to push for the winner. In the 80th minute, Guðmundsson replaced Frattesi. Seven minutes later, the Iceland international received the ball on the right and passed to Cancellieri, whose attempted cross was cleared by the Udinese defence. Zaccagni collected the ball centrally, just outside the penalty area, and unleashed a shot that hit the woodwork.
A minute later, Lazio struck again. After Maduka Okoye had collected a corner, Nicolò Bertola attempted a long pass forward, but Taylor intercepted it and played the ball to Danilho Doekhi on the left. His cross found Guðmundsson, who headed home to complete the comeback.
Udinese 1 Lazio 2.
Game over. A great win for the Biancocelesti, who made it three consecutive victories. Only twice before had Lazio won their first three Serie A matches of a season: in 1974-75 and 2012-13.
Who would have thought so after Mantova?
Who played for Udinese
Okoye, Abankwah (76' Bertola), Solet (38' Kabasele), Ebosse, Vojvoda, Piotrowski (15' Miller), Karlstrom, Kamara, Unai Gomez (46' Bayo), Ekkelenkamp, Davis (76' Zarraga)
Substitutes: Mrozek, Padelli, Lovrić, Gueye, Chakvetadze, Vinciati, Jovanovic
Manager: Runjaić
Who played for Lazio
Mandas, Floriani, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares, Frattesi (80' Guðmundsson), Belahyane, Taylor, Isaksen (53' Cancellieri), Pinamonti (53' Noslin), Zaccagni (90'+1' Pedraza)
Substitutes: Motta, Renzetti, Przyborek, Lazzari, R. Bordon, Šutalo, Serra, Farcomeni
Manager: Gattuso
Referee: Tremolada
Goals: 49' Karlström, 75' Frattesi, 88' Guðmundsson
Booked: Piotrowski (U), Miller (U), Isaksen (L), Karlström (U), Bayo (U), Bertola (U)
Comments