In the final fixture of Serie A Round 34, Lazio rallied from behind to salvage a single point against their visitors Parma.
Lazio Starting Lineup
Marco Baroni deployed what is arguably his best starting lineup, barring the injured Nuno Tavares and Manuel Lazzari. Christos Mandas started in goal behind Adam Marusic, Mario Gila, Alessio Romagnoli and Luca Pellgrini.
In midfield, Nicolo Rovella and Matteo Guendouzi linked up as usual, while Gustav Isaksen, Boulaye Dia and Mattia Zaccagni supported Taty Castellanos in attack.
Parma Take Early Lead
The visitors stunned the Aquile by taking the lead as early as the third minute with a swift play down the left side that caught Baroni’s defenders out of position. Emmanuele Valeri picked up Jakub Ondrejka in the middle of the box, and the young Swede beat Mandas with low shot that crept into the bottom corner.
Lazio had a few timid opportunities in the first half, but Baroni’s men were jeered off the pitch by their own supporters at the interval after failing to inspire.
Ondrejak Completed Stunning Brace
After the break, the Biancocelesti returned to the pitch determined to make up for their first-half shortcomings, but they were stunned by another early goal from Ondrejka who completed his brace in the 46th minute. The Lazio defenders blocked the Swede’s attempted pass, but it inadvertently set up a shot for the Parma midfielder who beat Mandas once more.
Baroni’s Changes Rescue a Point
Marco Baroni made a series of changes, bringing in Pedro, Tijjani Noslin, Loum Tchouna and Matias Vecino, and the substitutions ultimately paid off, despite a few missed opportunities at first.
In the 79th minute, Pellegrini’s cross from the left flank found Tchaouna whose volley was denied by Zion Suzuki, but Pedro was in the right place to smash the rebound home with venom.
Pedro Complete Brace
Five minutes later, Pellegrini replicated the same play, this time finding the Spanish veteran directly with a sublime cross. The Barcelona legend beat the Parma goalkeeper with a clever header to level the scoring.
Lazio Fall to 7th Place
Lazio then pushed for a winner, while Parma almost punished them on the counter, but Dennis Man squandered a golden opportunity. In the end, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, as the Biancocelesti dropped two vital points in the race for Europe. While they could have been level on points with Juventus in 4th place, they now sit 7th behind Bologna and Roma.
Lazio 2-2 Parma
Goals: 3′, 46′ Ondrejka (P), 79′, 84′ Pedro (L).
Lazio (4-2-3-1): Mandas; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Rovella (71′ Vecino); Isaksen (71′ Tchaouna), Dia (57′ Pedro), Zaccagni (71′ Noslin); Castellanos.
Parma (3-5-2): Suzuki; Delprato, Leoni, Valenti; Ondrejka, Sohm, Keita, Hainaut, Valeri (88′ Lovik); Pellegrino (60′ Djuric), Bonny (60′ Hernani).
Referee: Sacchi from Macerata
Yellow cards: Castellanos 50′ (L), Djuric 80′ (P).
