Lazio drew 1-1 with German third-tier side SV Meppen in yesterday’s pre-season friendly in Marienfeld. Coach Maurizio Sarri picked the following Starting XI for the game:
Lazio (4-3-3): Thomas Strakosha; Adam Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Stefan Radu, Elseid Hysaj; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Lucas Leiva, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Vedat Muriqi, Raul Moro.
The Biancocelesti were firmly in control in the early stages of the match, earning two corners in the first 11 minutes as they pressured the 3. Liga club. However, SV Meppen took the lead in the 13th minute thanks to a goal from Lukas Krüger, who took advantage of Luiz Felipe’s mistake to give the German side a 1-0 lead.
It did not take long for Lazio to respond, with Kosovan forward Vedat Muriqi connecting comfortably with a cross to slot home the equaliser, putting the game back on equal footing at 1-1.
19’ | #LazioMeppen 1-1
⚽ GOOOOOOOL!!!!!
🏴☠️ Il pareggio di @MuriqiVedat!!!!
#Marienfeld2021 #CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/eBtRLZb2Uj— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) August 4, 2021
Whilst Lazio remained in control for the remainder of the first half, they failed to find the back of the net, frustrating coach Sarri on the sidelines.
The 62-year-old Italian coach made five changes at half-time, taking off Marusic, Luiz Felipe, Radu, Luis Alberto and Muriqi, replacing them with Manuel Lazzari, Patric, Francesco Acerbi, Danilo Cataldi and Ciro Immobile respectively.
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The Roman club still couldn’t break the deadlock and so made five more changes in the 61st minute. Off went Hysaj, Milinkovic-Savic, Leiva, Felipe Anderson and Moro, with Dimitrije Kamenovic, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro, Gonzalo Escalante, Luka Romero and Joaquin Correa coming on.
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Correa was fouled in the box in the 85th minute and the referee gave a penalty, giving Lazio an opportunity to score a late winner. However, Immobile’s shot from 12 yards was saved by SV Meppen shot-stopper Matthis Harsman, frustrating for the 31-year-old Italian striker.
In the dying moments of the match, Correa was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for dissent, a confusing decision by the referee considering the nature of the game and the limited time remaining.
