Bad habits are difficult to get rid of

Simon Basten

Feb 6, 2023

3 min read

2022-23 Season

Game 21, Serie A

Monday, February 6, 2023

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Stadio Bentegodi, Verona

Verona Lazio 1-1

Once again Lazio is ahead at the end of the first half and once again concede a goal in the beginning of the second.

The teams

Maurizio Sarri decided to put Manuel Lazzari (out of form) and Felipe Anderson (not 100%) on the bench and in came Ciro Immobile from the start. Ciro needed playing time to get into a decent form and Lazio really needed him at 100%.

First half

Verona were a very physical team but at first Lazio seemed to cope well but without really creating anything themselves. The first chance of the match however was Lazio’s. In the 10th minute there was a free kick outside the penalty box. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic was the specialist but his wonderful shot was just out.

After the first third of the match Verona started to have a little more courage and were dangerous. Incredible chance in the 18th minute. Cyril Ngonge shot from long range on the right, the ball bounced just in front of Ivan Provedel who did what he could, Josh Doig had a great chance on the rebound but the Scot miskicked it completely. In the 25th minute Ngonge tried again but his shot was wide.

A minute later, long pass from Provedel to Milinkovic-Savic. The Serb’s back header went over the Verona defence and freed Immobile for a chance, but from a difficult angle. Ciro’s shot was wide. In the 35th minute, Immobile first had a volley attempt walled by the Verona defence and then on the rebound was unable to give his shot enough power.

Another chance for Verona in the 38’ minute. There was a corner for the gialloblu, the ball was cleared but Fabio Depaoli had a shot lined up for him outside the box on the left. The ball passed through a crowded area but Provedel did not take his eye off the ball and saved.

In the 43rd minute Elseid Hysaj for Pedro who ran into the box on the left but his shot was too high. Just before the half time whistle Lazio scored. Mattia Zaccagni went off on the left and passed to Immobile who gave it to Danilo Cataldi, ball to Pedro, back to Cataldi who again gave it to the Spaniard. Pedro was in the box, back to the goal. He turned and kicked a magnificent curving shot that beat Lorenzo Montipò. 1-0 for Lazio.

Second half

Lazio’s second half starts were always terrible and unfortunately that day is no exception. In the 51st minute Darko Lazovic had a free kick on the left not too far from the corner flag. His cross was perfect as was the timing of Ngonge who headed the ball past Provedel jumping up between Immobile and Nicolò Casale.

Three minutes later Verona could have made it two. Depaoli crossed from the right. The ball got to Lazovic in the box on the other side. His control was a complicated one and he had to run back slightly to reach the ball. When he did, he produced a wonderful curling shot that hit the woodwork.

Lazio had a temporary blackout and Verona pushed forward. In the 56th minute, Ngonge on the left to Lazovic who passed the ball inside the box. Hysaj cleared but it became a pass for Doig unmarked on the left. The Scot shot but Provedel was miraculous.

Sarri substituted Cataldi with Matias Vecino in the 60th minute. The Italian seemed to be in physical difficulty and Lazio were suffering. The introduction of the Uruguayan subdued Verona and put a little bit more life into the Biancocelesti who took back control of the game. However, Lazio did not create much and tended to miss the last decisive pass. Zaccagni came to life and was a little more dangerous but to no avail.

Once again Lazio conceded a goal in the opening minutes of the second half. Bad habits are difficult to erase.

Who played for Verona

Montipò, Magnani, Hien, Coppola (79' Ceccherini), Depaoli, Tameze (86' Sulemana), Duda, Doig, Ngonge (68' Gaich), Lazovic (79' Abildgaard), Lasagna

Substitutes: Berardi, Perilli, Zeefuik, Cabal, Terracciano, Verdi, Braaf, Kallon

Manager: Zaffaroni

Who played for Lazio

Provedel, Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj, Milinkovic-Savic, Cataldi (57' Vecino), Luis Alberto, Pedro, Immobile (68' Felipe Anderson), Zaccagni