by our correspondent Stefano Cieri
October 31, 2024 (changed at 11.15pm) – HOW
Lazio never stops. A very large and convincing victory also in Como (which had not seen its stadium violated since last January). For the Biancocelesti it is the seventh victory in the last eight matches played between the cup and the championship. Three points which are worth third place in the standings together with Atalanta and Fiorentina. Evening of glory for Baroni’s team both individually and collectively. To the beautiful game, as the days go by, the Roman team is adding a maturity and confidence that push them ever higher. Bad setback instead for Como. After many good performances (with mixed results) this time the Como team played and lost badly. It is now up to Fabregas and his men to make sure this is just an episode.
Lazio’s one-two
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Mirror formations (4-2-3-1) for both teams, but very different attitudes on the pitch. Lazio’s is more aggressive, the hosts are cautious. Obviously, the different technical caliber also has an impact, but the impression is that Lazio wants to play the match, while Como prefers to wait to exploit the spaces that the visiting team could leave. It didn’t happen because Baroni’s team occupies space very well, has proven synchronism and always the right intensity. In the end Baroni only makes two changes compared to the team that beat Genoa. One is forced (Vecino for the injured Rovella), the other (Pedro for Dia) is dictated by the Spaniard’s excellent form. There are also two changes from Fabregas compared to the match against Torino. The two midfielders change: Braunoder takes over Roberto (as already happened against Toro) and Mazzitelli takes over Perrone. After a study phase that lasts about twenty minutes, Lazio accelerates and within three minutes scores a deadly one-two. Castellanos (who had already committed Audero previously) opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a penalty awarded due to a handball by Dossena following a header by Castellanos himself (Pairetto didn’t see it, but the VAR intervened). Three minutes later Pedro doubles the lead as he capitalizes on the assist from the usual Tavares (Audero dives in late). Como feels the pinch and Lazio plays on their nerves. The only signal from the hosts came just before the break with a header from Dossena (from a corner from Paz) which Provedel blocked.
The Biancocelesti are spreading
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The second half begins with one substitution for each side. Fadera leaves Como and the more offensive Da Cunha comes in his place. Baroni responds with the insertion of Dia in place of Noslin (Pedro goes on the wing and the new arrival places himself behind Castellanos). Como, down by two goals and with little to lose, decides that the time has come to throw their hearts beyond the obstacle. The result is that after eight minutes the home team halves the deficit: Patric badly deflects Nico Paz’s cross, the ball goes to Mazzitelli who invents a beautiful overhead kick goal. Halfway through the second half, one after the other, the two episodes that in the space of a few minutes leave the two teams with ten men. First it is the already booked Braunoder who makes an intervention on Pedro who is sanctioned with the second yellow. Five minutes later the same fate for Tavares: the Portuguese’s second yellow card comes for a foul on Strefezzza. Baroni immediately takes action and inserts Pellegrini for Isaksen. The teams stretch out and the match enters a phase where anything can happen. Lazio took advantage of the situation, returning to the goal following the development of a corner (which was born after a half-miracle from Audero on Castellanos). Pedro shoots from the flag, Dia extends the trajectory and Patric heads it in at the far post. Como tries to reorganize itself, but fails, also because while Baroni is good at immediately redesigning the team with Pellegrini replacing Isaksen Fabregas takes too long to make changes (Cerri and Engelhardt come in, then Gabrielloni and Barba). Lazio becomes master of the pitch and further rounds the score. It’s Castellanos again who scores on an assist from Dia’s chest. And Tchaouna made the score very heavy for Como by recovering from an assist from Lazzari (both substitutes).
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