Nicolo Rovella

Lazio Fall Apart in Parma as Nicolo Rovella Goes From Hero to Zero

PARMA, ITALY - DECEMBER 01: Nicolo Rovella of SS Lazio in action during the Serie A match between Parma and SS Lazio at Stadio Ennio Tardini on December 01, 2024 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

After winning their last five Serie A fixtures, Lazio saw their purple patch come to an end as they succumbed to a 1-3 defeat at the hands of their hosts Parma.

Lazio Starting Lineup

Marco Baroni started with a hybrid formation varying between 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, depending on how to interpret Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s role in the middle of the park. The Nigerian joined Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Guendouzi in midfield, while Taty Castellanos led the line flanked by Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni.

Opener Cancelled

Rovella thought he had given the visitors the lead in the second minute with a brilliant long-range effort. However, the goal was disallowed following a VAR review as the Italian committed a foul on Anas Haj Mohamed in the buildup.

Nicolo Rovella’s Howler

A few minutes later, Rovella committed a major blunder at the back, giving away possession with an uncharacteristically poor back pass, allowing Dennis Man to steal the ball and slot it home past Ivan Provedel to put the home side ahead.

VAR Rules Out Mattia Zaccagni’s Spot Kick

Lazio kept pushing for an equalizer, but found stern resistance. For instance, Isaksen’s effort was cleared off the line. Just before the halftime break, the referee pointed towards the spot after spotting a foul on Zaccagni, but then changed his mind after being summoned for an on-field review by the VAR, sparking a raging reaction from the Biancocelesti and a major melee between the two sets of players.

Haj Mohamed Stuns Lazio

In the second period, Mario Gila was dispossessed in the middle of the park by Gabriel Charpentier, and the play culminated with a pearler from Haj Mohamed who beat Provedel with a stunning lob.

Short-Lived Hope

Castellanos pulled one back for the Biancocelesti as he latched onto the ball following a calamitous fumble between Botong Balogh and his goalkeeper Zion Suzuki. However, all hope evaporated for Lazio when Enrico Delprato pounced on a counter-attack to kill off the match with a third goal for the Crociati. This result leaves Lazio fifth in the standings.

Parma-Lazio 3-1: Result and scoresheet

Goals: 6′ Man (P), 52′ Haj (P), 80′ Castellanos (L), 90’+1 Delprato (P)

Parma (4-2-3-1): Suzuki; Delprato, Balogh, Leoni (71′ Hainaut), Valeri; Keita (46′ Estevez), Sohm; Man, Cancellieri (81′ Benedyczak), Haj (70′ Camara); Bonny (46′ Charpentier).

Lazio (4-3-3):  Provedel; Lazzari (81′ Marusic), Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Rovella (88′ Noslin), Dele-Bashiru (46′ Pedro); Isaksen (65′ Tchaouna), Castellanos, Zaccagni.

Yellow cards: Rovella (L), Keita (P), Bonny (P), Gila (L), Estevez (P), Balogh (P), Castellanos (L).

Tags Castellanos Lazio Nicolo Rovella Parma Parma vs Lazio rovella Serie A taty Castellanos