Final result: Lazio-Porto 2-1
LAZIO (Michele Pavese’s report cards)
Mandas 6 – He watches in shock as Vieira’s shot hits the post. First half almost like a spectator, second half more challenging. He can’t do anything on Eustaquio’s position.
Marusic 5.5 – He stops Omorodion by remedying a wrong offside, and is caught from behind by Galen on the occasion of the 1-1 goal. We can do better.
Gigot 6 – He gets a yellow card after a few minutes but this doesn’t affect his performance. Physique and experience to counter the dangerous opposing attackers. From 67′ Gila 6 – He came on to avoid Gigot’s red card and to restore calm to a defense shaken by the three changes made by Porto in the 60th minute.
Romagnoli 7 – Omorodion is a difficult customer but he holds his own and even takes the luxury of breaking the deadlock in injury time in the first half. He embellishes the performance with a decisive close at the end on Gul.
Tavares 6.5 – He goes so fast that sometimes his teammates can’t keep up with him. There is no passing through his side, it is a factor every time he attacks at least until the exit of the young Martim Fernandes. Courage and physical strength, a truly important purchase. From ’88’ Pellegrini sv.
Guendouzi 6.5 – Another great performance. Baroni rotates almost everyone but is unable to give up the Frenchman, a true beacon of this Lazio that is increasingly convincing.
Vecino 6 – He makes his presence felt in midfield duels and looks for insertion into the opponent’s area, his trademark. Romagnoli anticipated him in the 1-0 lead, he was well placed. Only in the end does he notice the fatigue and greater freshness of the guests.
Tchaouna 6 – Some interesting bucking and a lot of work to help Marusic. Overall another good performance, more and more mature. From 67′ Rovella 6 – He comes in with great stimuli and gives oxygen to a struggling midfield.
Pedro 7 – He struggles a bit to find space in the midfield but drags his teammates along with his usual personality. He presses and runs like a kid, incredible physical condition and the champion’s flash in the 92nd minute that drives the Olimpico crazy.
Zaccagni 6 – As always, he is willing, even if haste is often a bad advisor and he gets a little too caught up in the “Latin” atmosphere of the challenge. From 71′ Isaksen 6 – About twenty minutes played in an orderly manner, helping out in the defensive phase.
Castellanos 6.5 – The first chance is his, then a goal is disallowed for a rather obvious offside and at the end of the first half he makes the tower for the captain’s winning shot. Few occasions but always incisive. From 67′ Dia 5.5 – Very few balls touched, his entrance came at the moment of maximum pressure from the opponents. He is unable to be a point of reference for his teammates.
Marco Baroni 7 – Twelve points in 4 games, none like Lazio in the Europa League. It was a sort of back-to-back test to measure the Biancocelesti’s European ambitions, against a strong team used to playing on certain stages. The exam can be said to have been passed with flying colours: he gets the moves right during the course of the game, in the end he invites everyone to attack and is rewarded.
PORT (Report cards by Paolo Lora Lamia)
Costs 5.5 – Not very busy in the first half, where however he had more than one responsibility for Romagnoli’s goal which broke the deadlock.
Martim 6 – He thinks more about containing than pushing, doing his duty excellently against Zaccagni and Tavares. More in difficulty since the start of the second half. From the 61st minute Joao Mario 6 – Compared to the partner he takes over, he guarantees more push in his area of competence.
Djalò 6.5 – The former Juve player protects his area as best he can, despite having to deal with a yellow card already in the first 45 minutes.
Perez 6 – Just like his teammate, he provides evidence of good solidity, making life difficult for Lazio’s attackers. Not flawless on Pedro’s 2-1.
Moura 5.5 – The least convincing of the defensive department, especially when Tchaouna lights up on his side. Not good against Isaksen either.
Varela 5.5 – A few more offensive insertions for him compared to Eustaquio, but in general a more anonymous performance. He also loses the aerial duel with Castellanos on the 1-0 corner. From the 61st minute Gonzalez 6 – He gives freshness to the midfield, in view of a final part of the match that is uncertain right up to the end.
Eustaquio 6.5 – He immediately suffers a hard foul and then makes up for it with interests, often intervening at the limit. His determination can certainly be seen in the middle of the pitch. In the second half, he also scores the temporary 1-1.
Vieira 5.5 – The best of the white and blue offensive quartet in the first 45 minutes, when he came close to scoring with a sensational shot on the woodwork. It drops after the break. From 84′ Franco sv.
Namaso 5.5 – Some good initiatives in the finishing phase, which however the teammates did not exploit properly. However, it is certainly not among the most positive. From 61′ Pepe 6 – Good impact on the race. He puts his foot in most of the blue and white offensive actions.
Galen 6 – The attacking winger, courted by Juventus in the summer, tries to light up on the left but does not do so with the necessary continuity. Much better, however, in the second part of the match when Eustaquio served the equalizer.
Omorodion 5 – The number one danger for Baroni’s defense, which however was limited without too much trouble. It doesn’t improve in terms of danger as the minutes pass. From 76′ Gul sv.
Vitor Bruno 5.5 – Porto’s European campaign continues with more shadows than lights. First half not too exciting, the second was better with the substitutions but towards the end Lazio believed in it more.