???? Zaccagni returns and scores: Lazio flies and grabs third place

Lazio won a match that had suddenly become complicated after a dominated first half. The 2-1 home win over Cagliari now projects the Biancocelesti into third place together with Atalanta and Fiorentina.

Marco Baroni’s team achieved their third consecutive victory in the championship and are aiming for a leading role in the top half of the table. Cagliari, at least until the double sensational expulsion of Yerry Mina and Michel Adopo, had not demerited, but were forced to return home with zero points and a couple of suspensions.

After Zaccagni’s goal, Cagliari made the match hopelessly complicated by suffering two expulsions in a matter of seconds.

First Yerry Mina received the second warning for a slap on Castellanos, then Michel Adopo was kicked out for one too many words towards the referee.

Lazio captain Mattia Zaccagni, who hadn’t played in two games, came on in the 73rd minute and two minutes later converted the penalty that gave the Biancocelesti the lead again.

Pellegrini’s intuition was decisive as he anticipated Nadir Zortea in the penalty area following the development of a play. The winger brought him down and the referee awarded the maximum punishment.

Among other things, Zaccagni can boast of having scored all the penalties in Serie A (5). A record he shares with Hakan Calhanoglu (17), Simone Verdi and Juraj Kucka (both 7).

In the 59th minute Sebastiano Luperto was the protagonist of a double save on the line, first on Taty Castellanos’ header and then on Matias Vecino’s tap in from two steps.

Cagliari unexpectedly found the equalizer in the 41st minute thanks to a fortuitous goal from Zito Luvumbo, who hadn’t scored in Serie A since last February in the match against Napoli.

The Angolan attacking winger received the ball from Antoine Makoumbou and unleashed a right-footed shot from inside the penalty area.

The shot was deflected decisively by Mario Gila. Ivan Provedel, taken aback, could do nothing but watch the ball enter the net.

Alessio Romagnoli is wearing the captain’s armband of Lazio, the team he has supported since he was a child, for the first time as a starter.

Lazio took the lead after just two minutes of play thanks to Boulaye Dia’s fourth league goal.

The Senegalese striker took advantage of Simone Scuffet’s poor save from Luca Pellegrini’s free kick and scored with a very simple tap in.

The Biancocelesti coach Marco Baroni stopped at the microphones of Sky Sport before kick-off.

These are his words on the award: “This award belongs to the team and my staff. It is clear that expectations are raised, but in football it is something that must be managed through attitudes, performance, desire, determination, hunger, not looking at what we have done but what we must do. I made a call in this direction”.

On tonight’s game: “It’s a complicated, difficult match. Cagliari is a solid team, Nicola is a good, expert coach who prepares these matches well. We must have desire, determination, attention, clarity. These are matches that are played in 100 minutes with these prerogatives “.

Boulaye Dia also spoke to DAZN before the match. These are his words: “I’m in a fantastic team, with strong players. We’re happy to win games both at home and away. Tonight the first objective is to win, but if I can help with goals or assists it’s good for everyone”.

???? Marco Rosi – SS Lazio – 2024 Getty Images

Lazio coach Marco Baroni has won the award for best Serie A coach of the month of October. From the seventh to the tenth day of the championship he led the Capitoline team to 3 victories and only one defeat against Juventus, who arrived in numerical inferiority and due to an own goal.

These are the training choices of the two coaches Marco Baroni and Davide Nicola.

LAZIO (4-2-3-1): Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini Lu.; Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen, Dia, Noslin; Castellanos.

CAGLIARI (4-2-3-1): Shovel; Zappa, Mina, Lupert, Bird; Adopo, Makoumbou; Zortea, Gaetano, Lumbo; Little ones.