After four consecutive matches, Lazio did not go beyond a 0-0 draw against Ludogorets at the Olimpico stadium in a match valid for the fifth day of the ‘Championship Phase’ of the 2024/25 Europa League. Despite a purely offensive match, Baroni’s team was unable to break through against a Ludogorets team who only focused on defending the 0-0 draw and in the end achieved their goal. Also thanks to the help of the referee.
Seven changes compared to the team that beat Bologna 3-0 in the last round of the championship, Lazio appeared on the pitch with a 4-2-3-1 with Dia and Noslin who alternated and supported in the role of center forward. From the first minutes the home team managed the match, but had to deal with a Ludogorets team that took to the pitch with the clear intent of bringing home a point: 5-4-1, almost zero pressing and two lines crushed in front of the goalkeeper to make any central play impossible.
In the first half, Lazio had their best chances in the 38th and 40th with Boulaye Dia, but never really put the guests in difficulty. Nor did he ever do too much in the first half to break the deadlock. Baroni’s team, almost worn out by the all-out defense of their opponents, moved the ball too slowly and often tried to spread the ball on the left to involve a willing Pellegrini, but with his attacking men he moved too little to avoid traffic jams in the attacking midfield.
In the second half the home team changed its face. To speed up the maneuver, to widen Ludogorets’ shirts, Baroni started again by inserting Lazzari, Castellanos, Isaksen and – a few minutes later – also Nicolò Rovella. Lazio, with a revolutionized eleven compared to that of the first half, actually managed to be faster in the last thirty metres, more proactive. But not enough to beat Bonmann with a maneuvered action. He could have done it with a penalty kick, however, a quarter of an hour from the end the referee sensationally denied him this possibility, sending Baroni into a rage. Marcus’ late intervention on Isaksen was not sanctioned by match director Strukan either in real time or at the end of the play when VAR called him to the monitor. An incomprehensible decision, which made the last part of the match fragmented and nervous. The last noteworthy idea was a stone from the edge of the area by Guendouzi: nothing to be done, the ball ended up on the crossbar. For Lazio it is the first draw in this competition after four consecutive victories.
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