Elmar Bergonzini
November 7, 2024 (changed at 11.07pm) – ROMA
A great Lazio, who wins heartily against an excellent opponent. At home against Porto, in the most complicated European match thus far, the Biancocelesti won 2-1 (goal from Romagnoli in the 50th minute of the first half and from Pedro in the 92nd minute, Eustaquio’s momentary 1-1 point was useless) and confirmed their position at the top of the Europa League table, but now alone. Baroni’s team is still with full points and boasts a 5-point advantage over the ninth in the class, who would be the first to have to participate in the play-offs. The Biancocelesti, therefore, are very much on their way to directly qualifying for the round of 16. Furthermore, Zaccagni and his teammates are the only Italian team still with full points in their European competition. Baroni, on the other hand, is just the second Lazio coach to have won the first four matches ever played in Europe: the other was Simone Inzaghi.
THE RACE
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Baroni changes 8 compared to the match won on Monday in the championship, deploying Gigot and Romagnoli to contain the young Omorodion, who entered the match as the top scorer of the tournament. The match is lively and also rather nervous: in the first half hour two players on each side are booked (Gigot and Zaccagni for the Biancocelesti, Danny Namaso and Omordion for the Portuguese). However, there are also many opportunities: in the 6th minute Tchaouna finds Castellanos who, however, from a good position, shoots high. A few moments later Lazio’s Argentine striker also finds a way to score, but it is disallowed for offside. Porto also shows up and scares with Omorodion, on whom Marusic, on more than one occasion, has to climb to help the central defenders contain him physically. The biggest opportunity of the first part of the match belonged to the guests: Viera, in the 33rd minute, took the inside cross, but the ball bounced onto the pitch. The usual Omorodion, offside, pounced on the rebound, but Gigot had been providential in his conclusion. But then, in full recovery, Lazio took the lead: from Zaccagni’s corner, Castellanos made the tower for Romagnoli who headed home his first goal of the season (and first ever in Europe).
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THE RECOVERY
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In the second half the pace inevitably drops. Lazio are less unbalanced, but still don’t give up attacking. Porto therefore had a chance to become dangerous and regained the equalizer in the 65th minute: Galeno broke through on the left and set up Eustaquio, who beat Mandas with a sure shot. Lazio responds with Vecino (inaccurate header in the 67th minute following an assist from Pedro), and continues to play the game by attacking, finding the opening goal in the 92nd minute: Isaksen catches the eternal Pedro in the heart of the area and the Spaniard, from two steps away, he scores his sixth goal of the season. Launching Lazio to the top of the European standings.
