Final result: Lazio-Empoli 2-1
LAZIO
Provedel 5.5 – Nightmare start for the Lazio goalkeeper who, after a harmless cross from Pezzella, slips and then can’t do anything about Esposito’s header. Not very busy in the rest of the race.
Lazarus 6 – His match didn’t even last a while due to a thigh muscle injury. Better to push than to defend. From 38′ Marusic 6 – Compared to his teammate, he thinks more about containing and does it diligently.
Gila 6 – An orderly match by the central defender, who responds by being present when dangerous balls arrive in the Lazio area.
Romagnoli 5.5 – Esposito’s goal was largely due to Provedel’s awkward fall, but he too had his responsibilities, losing the aerial duel with the Empoli native.
Nuno Tavares 6.5 – The usual train in the left lane. Just before the break, he puts the ball in the middle which Zaccagni converts to make it 1-1. From 86′ Pellegrini sv.
Guendouzi 6 – There is no lack of grit in the middle of the pitch, but it is not always accompanied by a certain precision in passing to his teammates. He improves during the second half.
Rovella 6 – He emerges mainly for how he counters the Empoli midfield. Less incisive for the geometries it should give to the team.
Isaksen 5.5 – Baroni gives him a chance from the first minute, which in truth was not fully exploited. Few ideas on the right front of the attack, things didn’t get better in the second half. From 73′ Pedro 7.5 – Lazio’s deus ex machina. He enters in the most difficult moment and, assisted by Castellanos, unloads the missile behind Vasquez that is worth the 3 points.
Dia 5.5 – The former Salernitana player is less brilliant than his latest releases, struggling to make an impact both as an offensive director and as a solver. From 86′ Castrovilli sv.
Zaccagni 7 – When the going gets tough, the tough (and captains) get going. A match that was becoming very tough resumes, with the winning header from a cross by Nuno Tavares. From 86′ Noslin sv.
Castellanos 6 – The usual perpetual motion, which constantly varies across the entire offensive front. After the 0-1 he was among those who gave the most shock, making himself dangerous twice in the first half. He gets into the scoring action with the winning assist, but the badly kicked penalty also weighs on his performance.
Marco Baroni 6.5 – A less beautiful performance than others, but in some ways more important. His team has shown that it can win even “dirty” games in which things are not going as hoped. Pedro’s entrance was spot on.
EMPOLI (edited by Matteo Trevisi)
Vasquez 7 – Stylistically not perfect but takes almost everything. First he responds to Isaksen’s poisonous free kick, then somehow extends Castellanos’ shot into the corner. Decisive on the occasion of the penalty to hypnotize Castellanos.
Goglichidze 5.5 – Together with Grassi he concedes too many meters to Zaccagni who scores the temporary equalizer.
Ismajli 7 – Perfect in any defensive reading. He contains Castellanos by making him work away from goal and allowing him only one shot from distance.
Screws 6.5 – He makes an excellent guard on the center-left. He is continually targeted by Isaksen but he is good at containing it.
Gyasi 6 – Good containment work on the flank where the two opponents operate. Also good at transforming the action into an offensive one.
Fazzini 6 – He returns from injury and is unable to show all his qualities. He dances on the ball a couple of times but nothing more. From the 65th minute Henderson 6 – He makes a good filter in the middle of the field.
Fats 5 – On the occasion of the Biancoceleste goal he leaves too much space for Zaccagni who is free to head the ball and score the equalizer. On the second goal he was blown away too easily by Castellanos.
Anjorin 6.5 – Confirms his excellent state of form. He works well between the lines and often shoots free, without finding the joy of scoring. From 65′ Ekong 6 – On some occasions he tries to trace the current back to his people.
Pezzella 6.5 – He constantly goes up and down on the flank, putting Lazio’s right-wing chain in difficulty. He scores the opening goal, first recovering the ball and then providing the assist to Esposito. Naive on the occasion of the penalty to overwhelm Dia. From 54′ Cacace 5.5 – It is proposed often but with less quality than its predecessor. On Lazio’s goal he squeezes towards the center too late.
Esposito 6.5 – Few balls available but in the only one touched inside the opponent’s area, he takes advantage of Provedel’s slide and heads his team ahead. From ’83 De Sciglio sv.
Solbakken 6 – He often proposes to tie up the Tuscans’ game. Also good in the goal that opens the game with a good play that frees Pezzella on the outside. From 83′ Colombo sv.
Roberto D’Aversa 6 – He is one step away from yet another seasonal feat. He went ahead at the start of the match but the goal conceded at the end of the first half cut short his team’s legs and they conceded a penalty kick at the start of the second half, which was then saved by Vasquez. In the central part of the second half his team raises the wall which Pedro knocks down with 5 remaining.