It has not been the dream match for Real. In Europe you cannot show such defensive fragility and they have paid dearly for this setback against the already final leader of the Europa League, a Lazio that has left the challenge aired after the first half hour of play. The defeat forces the Gipuzkoa team to beat PAOK on the last day if they want to make the cut to the next round.
It didn’t take many minutes for the problems behind Imanol’s team to become evident, especially in the strategy plays, nor to concede the first goal. With only five minutes elapsed and unable to clear a cross from their own area originating from a lateral foul, the Txuri Urdin team found themselves behind on the scoreboard when Gila scored a loose ball.
The 1-0 score has not lowered the hosts’ heart rate, quite the opposite. Remiro saved the second goal in a one-on-one with Dia (m.14) and just a minute later, Brais took a header from Castellanos under the sticks – the ball narrowly missed the mark – and a subsequent clearance went to the post in a bizarre play that ended in a corner kick.
Having overcome this burden, Real has experienced its best moments, which have been able to change the dynamics of the match. A left-footed shot from Sucic hit the post (m.22) and Becker staged a counterattack, surpassing his rivals in speed, but finishing low and with little power (m.29).
Everything went to waste after half an hour. A too impetuous Aihen Muñoz to have already received a yellow card has seen the second one at the hands of a rigorous Visser, but also coherent in how he directed the match. The Basque team has been left behind and the uphill climb has become immense.
Two definitive stabs
Because in the next two shots Lazio killed the game. Zaccagni has completed a set in which the locals have played too much in the Txuri Urdin area (m.32) and Castellanos has finished squandering the visitors’ options with a header, getting ahead of the Guipuzcoan defense (m.34).
Imanol has decided to minimize damage at half-time, with a triple substitution and tactical arrangement of five players at the back for the second forty-five minutes in which there was much more to lose than to gain. The duel has become a handball confrontation, with Real gathered in their own field and Lazio prowling their area, although not with excessive intensity, since their coach, Marco Baroni, has also included a good number of changes, reserving his headlines.
With a match to forget, the idea has been that time would pass, trying to maintain the position and not leave gaps to prevent a victory that could have been embarrassing. The Italian block, in fact, had the fourth with a shot from the very veteran Pedro to the crossbar.
-But Real have not only defended, they have also taken out the pride they had left to close the gap in numerical inferiority. Aramburu believed in one of the few visitor arrivals to put in a cross that the local goalkeeper touched with his fingers, leaving the ball on Barrenetxea’s head to touch it into the nets (m.82).
A bit that, at least, partially makes up for a tough result due to how it occurred, although the txuri urdines can only think about making a clean slate to undertake the next match against PAOK in Anoeta as if it were a final. treat.
Technical sheet:
Lazio: Mandas; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares (Dele-Bashiru, m.43); Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen (Noslin, m.55), Zaccagni (Tchaouna, m.56), Boulaye Dia (Balde, m.76) and ‘Taty’ Castellanos (Pedro, m.46).
Real: Alex Remiro; Aramburu, Zubeldia, Aguerd (Pacheco, m.71), Aihen; Zubimendi (Elustondo, m.46), Sucic, Brais Méndez (Javi López, m.36); Becker, Kubo (Barrenetxea, m.46) and Oyarzábal (Pablo Marín, m.46).
Goals: 1-0, m.5: Mario Gila; 2-0, m.32: Zaccagni; 3-0, m.34: ‘Taty’ Castellanos; 3-1, m.82: Barrenetxea.
Arbitrator: Lawrnce Visser (flamenco). Aihen Muñoz was sent off for a double yellow card (m.12 and 30). He has cautioned Rovella (m.7), Zubimendi (m.39) and Zaccagni (m.53).
