Lazio were hoping to get back winning ways in front of their home crowd at the Stadio Olimpico, but were forced to settle for a draw against Torino.
Lazio Starting Lineup
In the absence of the injured Taty Castellanos, Marco Baroni turned to Boulaye Dia to lead the line, supported by Gustav Isaksen, Pedro and Mattia Zaccagni. As usual, Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolo Rovella started in midfield, while the backline was composed of Elseid Hysaj, Samuel Gigot, Alessio Romagnoli and Adam Marusic.
Lazio Come Close in First Half
The first half was a mostly uneventful affair, but the Biancoclesti still had a couple of dangerous chances. Mattia Zaccagni tested Vanja Milinkovic-Savic with a vicious shot. The goalkeeper then failed to properly control a backpass which almost allowed Pedro to score, but he swiftly made amends with a suicidal dive to deny the Spaniard, while Gustav Isaksen’s rebound was just off target.
Adam Marusic Hand Lazio the Lead
Torino started the second half on a promising note, but Ivan Provedel pulled off a superb save to deny Guillermo Maripan’s header. A few minutes later, Lazio found the breakthrough thanks to Marusic who made a rare surge forward. Pedro did a fabulous job of holding on to the ball and setting up the Montenegrin, who sent a spectacular curler towards the far post.
Lazio Fail To Find the Second Goal
The Aquile had several chances to kill off the match with a second goal, but Zaccagni and Tijjani Noslin failed to beat Milinkovic-Savic, while Guendouzi’s long-range drive whistled past the post. Moreover, Lazio had a penalty shout for a handball on Maripan, as the ball struck his hand while sliding to the ground, but neither the match official nor VAR were interested.
Torino Level the Score
In the end, Lazio paid dearly for their wasted opportunities, as Torino found the equalizer in the final 10 minutes of the contest. Yann Karamoh freed Cristiano Biraghi on the left flank.
The former Fiorentina captain went to the byline and then cut it back to the middle, and a little deflection off Marusic was enough to set up Gvidas Gineitis, who sent a powerful shot through the crowd, leaving Provedel with no chance.
Another Blow for Top 4 Hopes
Baroni’s men pushed forward for a late winner, but that was all she wrote. Lazio now find themselves tied on points with their blood rivals Roma in 6th place, as they continue to slip behind in the race for the Champions League. They are now four points adrift from 4th-placed Bologna.
Lazio 1-1 Torino
Goals: 57′ Marusic (), 82′ Gineitis (T).
Lazio (4-2-3-1) : Provedel; Hysaj (74′ Pellegrini), Romagnoli, Gigot, Marusic; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen (89′ Tchaouna), Pedro (74′ Dele-Bashiru), Zaccagni, Dia (66′ Noslin).
Torino (4-2-3-1) : Milinkovic-Savic; Walukiewicz (71′ Karamoh), Coco, Maripan, Biraghi; Casadei (71′ Gineitis), Ricci; Lazaro (86′ Pedersen), Vlasic (71′ Sanabria), Elmas; Adams (86′ Ilic).
Referee: Massa from Imperia
Booked : 7′ Lazaro (T), 40′ Zaccagni (L), 45’+3 Maripan (T), 57′ Ricci (T), 64′ Walukiewicz (T), 69′ Guendouzi (L), 92′ Romagnoli (L)
The team is missing a Luis Alberto and a milinkovic savic.. no creativity upfront. Always passing the ball back, no one takes on a long range short, “all we do Is pass pass pass no matter what”
Couldn’t agree more!!!! Lotito is not spending on HIGH and PROMISING players and we re getting the cost of it. It is clearly seen that we do indeed need a star striker as we’re struggling HARDDD. A lukaku or a Alvarez