Empoli fails to take advantage of Lecce's defeat: Lazio wins 1-0 at the "Castellani"

Empoli, May 4, 2025 – TheEmpoli does not take advantage of Lecce's home defeat against Napoli: at the "Castellani", Lazio wins by a narrow margin (1-0), thanks to a goal by Dia at the beginning of the match. With three days to go in the Serie A championship, theEmpoli remains 1 point away from safety, while Lazio will be able to play for fourth place until the end.

Empoli in a strong, very strong emergency, given the exaggerated number of absentees. D'Aversa opts again for Solbakken, leaving Esposito on the bench (he won't play even a minute, suggesting a further problem).

Fazzini plays in front of the defense, while Marianucci plays in a more advanced position, in midfield. Rocket start for the Capitoline team, who after less than a minute (53 seconds) are already ahead: Hysaj's millimetric throw, Viti gets lost Day, who does not forgive Vasquez from a few steps away. In the 14th minute, Gyasi passes to Marianucci, who fires a central shot from 22 meters, which Mandas makes his own. In the 17th minute, a long-distance shot by Castilians, with the ball ending up on the bottom.

In the 43rd minute on a cross from Guendouzi, Vasquez is able to deflect the ball into a corner. Empoli reactive at the start of the second half. In the 5th minute, first Solbakken and then Pezzella have a goal opportunity: the first does not reach the ball, the second "chews" it from a good position. Not even a minute later, the equaliser for the Empoli Azzurri: on Sambia's free kick, extended by Solbakken, Screws he finds himself one on one with the goalkeeper and beats him. But the Yes disallow the goal due to the defender being offside.

In the 19th minute, following a corner, Castellanos shoots from a favorable position. In the 27th minute, the low shot from the new entrant Pedro ends just wide. In the 40th minute, Marianucci saves Pedro, who is launched towards the goal and finds himself alone in front of Vasquez: the Lazio calls for a penalty, referee Colombo lets the game continue. At 41' Sambia's left-footed shot is blocked on the ground by Mandas. At 45', finally, Vasquez says no to Isaksen, who found himself one-on-one with the Colombian goalkeeper. Lazio celebrates,'Empoli continues not to win (the last success in early December in Verona). But salvation is still possible.

EMPOLI – LAZIO 0-1  

EMPOLI (3-4-2-1): Vasquez; Goglichidze (1' st Sambia), Ismajli, Viti (45' st Campaniello); Gyasi, Fazzini, Marianucci, Pezzella; Solbakken (13' st Konate), Cacace; Colombo. Subs: Silvestri, Seghetti, Brancolini, De Sciglio Tosto, Bacci, Esposito. Coach: D'Aversa.  

LAZIO (4-2-3-1): Mandas; Hysaj, Gigot, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (25' st Gila); Guendouzi, Rovella (33' st Provstgaard); Marusic (1' st Isaksen), Dia (13' st Vecino), Zaccagni (25' st Pedro); Castellanos. Subs: Provedel, Furlanetto, Basic, Dele-Bashiru, Ibrahimovic, Tchaouna, Noslin. Coach: Baroni.  

REFEREE: Columbus of Como.  

MARKER: 1' pt Day.  

NOTES: overcast. Red cards: 38' pt Colombo for a combination of yellow cards; 31' st Hysaj for a combination of yellow cards. Yellow cards: Goglichidze, Pellegrini, Vecino, Viti, Provstgaard. Corners: 2-7. Recovery time: 3', 5'. Gianluca Barni