Lecce-Lazio 1-2, Baroni finds success with Castellanos and Marusic

Elmar Bergonzini

December 21, 2024 (changed at 11.36pm) – MILANO

Immediate response. Even if Lazio struggled a lot to give it. Yet the Biancocelesti win 2-1 in Lecce, recover after the 0-6 defeat against Inter on Monday and take, at least momentarily, fourth place in the standings. With Lecce reduced to 10 men since first-half stoppage time (Guilbert sent off), the goals from Castellanos, on a penalty (48' of the first half) and Marusic (in the 87th minute) were decisive. Lecce, despite being numerically inferior, had equalized at the start of the second half with Tete Morente, and had come close to making it 2-2 with Kaba (crossbar). In the final tension due to a stone thrown from the stands in the direction of Guendouzi.

THE RACE

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Baroni recovers Romagnoli and places him in the center of defense. Isaksen, Dia and Zaccagni instead move behind Castellanos. Lecce responds with the 4-3-3 with Pierotti, Krstovic and Tete Morente. The hosts are the ones who keep the ball more, with Lazio however becoming dangerous on the counter-attack from the first minutes: in the 6th minute it is Lazzari, from the edge, who puts Falcone in difficulty. Lecce responds with Tete Morente who, with a volley, challenges Provedel. The Biancocelesti took advantage of the spaces that Lecce allowed and in the 25th minute they came close to taking the lead with Isaksen who, with a header, had the shot blocked by Coulibaly with Falcone on the ground. A few minutes later the Dane comes close to taking the lead again: launched by Castellanos, Isaksen puts the opposing goalkeeper in serious difficulty. Lecce pushes and wins a series of corner kicks (5-0 at the end of the first half), but fails to create clear chances. On the other hand, Castellanos again challenges Falcone: the Argentine, with his back to the goal, raises the ball and volleys from outside, but finds the Lecce goalkeeper ready. The first half ends with the episode that directs the match: Rovella recovers the ball at the limit and puts it in for Castellanos who kicks with force, Falcone saves, Taty tries again and Guilbert punches it away on the goal line. For referee Manganiello it's a red card and a penalty, which Castellanos himself transforms by taking his team forward.

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THE RECOVERY

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In the second half, Lazio seemed to want to close out the match, with Tavares looking for Dia in the area, but Baschirotto did well to anticipate the African. Lecce, however, was not intimidated with Tete Morente who beat Provedel with a powerful and precise shot from the edge of the box which went into the corner. Lazio takes the field and increases the pace, but the hosts are good at allowing little space despite playing with a numerical inferiority. The Biancocelesti also find the goal with Dia, but the referee cancels it for offside. Lazio also plays with a very high defensive line, with Lecce who, with personality, looks for the hole several times, forcing Provedel to intervene on several occasions well beyond his own penalty area. The match is alive, the teams are long and both are looking for victory, but confusion reigns in the two thirds of the field. And so, in the 87th minute, Lazio's 2-1 goal, although sought and desired, was also fortunate: following a corner kick, Marusic volleyed past Falcone. In the 95th minute Kaba, served by Rebic, hits the crossbar with his head. On the rebound it is Pierotti who devours the 2-2, kicking out from an excellent position. It ends like this: Lecce only has a good performance left, Lazio takes the 3 points and fourth place. Waiting for Fiorentina who will challenge Udinese on Monday.