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Updated: Oct 11
Game 5, Serie A
Saturday, September 19, 2026
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Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, Venice
Venezia Lazio 0-2
Mandas saves a penalty in the first half, then Zaccagni and Noslin strike after the break to give Lazio all three points.
The team
There were no changes to the starting eleven that drew with Milan. Rino Gattuso again selected Tijjani Noslin as centre-forward and Josip Šutalo in defence, with Matteo Cancellieri on the wing. Danilho Doekhi had recovered from his injury but started on the bench.
First half
Lazio started well, with a Mattia Zaccagni free kick going narrowly wide in the fourth minute, but soon found themselves in difficulty. Venezia, still without a point and desperate for a win, played very well.
In the 15th minute, goalkeeper Filip Stanković, son of Dejan, sent a long ball into the Lazio half. Romano Floriani was in front of Thierry Correia and should have been able to head it safely back to Christos Mandas. His header was weak, however, allowing Correia to race towards the ball and get there before the goalkeeper, who brought him down. Penalty to Venezia.
John Yeboah stepped up and took the spot kick, but Mandas saved, keeping Lazio in the game.
In the 25th minute, Venezia won a corner. Mandas failed to collect the cross, but Nuno Tavares managed to clear the ball almost on the goal line. It fell to Antoine Hainaut, who crossed into the box. Josip Šutalo headed it away towards Simon Sohm, whose powerful volley was spectacularly saved by Mandas.
Venezia threatened again in the 33rd minute. Reda Belahyane was blatantly tripped on the edge of the hosts' penalty area, but the referee astonishingly waved play on. Venezia launched a dangerous counter-attack, with Yeboah setting up Akor Adams, whose weak shot from inside the box was parried by Mandas.
Four minutes later, the Greek goalkeeper saved another effort from Hainaut, while Adams failed to get the right connection on the rebound.
And Lazio? Almost nothing. Just a few attempts and a Cancellieri shot in the 42nd minute that shaved the post.
Second half
The second half began with a bang. In the 49th minute, Zaccagni found Kenneth Taylor inside the box. The midfielder turned but was tripped by Yeboah. This time the referee pointed to the spot, awarding Lazio their first penalty of the season.
Zaccagni stepped up and converted, giving the Biancocelesti the lead.
In the 55th minute, a neat exchange between Belahyane and Noslin ended with the Dutchman firing narrowly wide. Five minutes later, Tavares crossed from the left and Noslin headed the ball into the net to double Lazio's advantage.
Venezia had another opportunity in the 71st minute. Kike Pérez played a superb pass to Adams, who was in an excellent position but could only produce another weak effort.
The game gradually petered out, with Lazio in control and Venezia, despite having played an excellent match, looking increasingly dejected.
A good win for Lazio, who had Mandas to thank for keeping them in the game. The Biancocelesti were perhaps fortunate, but they were top again, level with Roma and Inter.
Who played for Venezia
Stankovic, Schingtienne, Moreno, Juan Jesus, Hainaut, Kike Perez, Sohm, Helgason (73' Fanne), Correia (76' Sagrado), Adams (73' Rrahmani), Yeboah (87' Fernandez)
Substitutes: Montipò, Mohammed, Halhal, Lauberbach, Berardi, Panada, Lisman, Gomes
Manager: Stroppa
Who played for Lazio
Mandas, Floriani (77' Lazzari), Sutalo, Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares (84' Pedraza), Frattesi, Belahyane, Taylor (77' Gudmundsson), Cancellieri, Noslin (77' Pinamonti), Zaccagni (86' Isaksen)
Substitutes: Motta, Renzetti, Diogo Leite, Doekhi, Cataldi, Serra, Farcomeni
Manager: Gattuso
Referee: Sozza
Goals: 51’ Zaccagni (pen), 60’ Noslin
Booked: Kike Perez, Juan Jesus, Correia, Fernandez, Schingtienne, Moreno (all playing for Venezia)
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