Lazio-Nice 4-1: Castellanos lights the way in the downpour and gives the win

Rome, 3 October 2024 – Under an incessant rain the Lazio overcomes with a peremptory 4-1 the Nice and celebrates the second success in two European matches played. In the Roman evening the star of Castilians, the real star of the match. The Argentine scored two goals and won a penalty, but we must not forget the beautiful goal by Pedro, with a wonderful left-footed curling shot that unlocked the challenge. The former Sassuolo e Atalanta Jeremie God, who tries to reopen the challenge, but fails. Celebrate Baroni and celebrates the Olimpico, now the focus shifts to the championship, where the Capitoline team awaits theEmpoli at home before the international break. 

First half

For the challenge against the French, Baroni point up mandas between the posts, with the two Spanish central defenders, Patric e Crazy to protect him, while on the wings Marusic e Pellegrini. Guendouzi e Vecino It is the pair in the middle, while in the three-quarter line Dele Bashiru it's in the center, Tchaouna on the right and Pedro on the left, supporting the lone striker Castilians. The response of the red and blacks of the French Riviera is entrusted to Bun between the posts. The defensive line is three men with I enjoyed it, Bombito e Dante Alighieri. Clauss and Louchet are the outsiders, with Rosary e Boudaoui the medians. Bounani e Boce they are the two attacking midfielders in support of moukoko.

In the first ten minutes the two teams study each other, few incursions aimed at truly looking for a goal, but more to observe how their respective defenses react to pressure situations. The Capitoline team are however good at gaining meters little by little, until finally breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute. On the developments of a corner kick, perfectly taken by Pedro, excellent detachment of Castilians, full crossbar hit by the Argentine, while Bun remains immobile. The team of Baroni but he insists and four minutes later he hits the woodwork again. This time it is Vecino, good at freeing himself on the edge of the area to try a right-footed shot: a defender recovers and deflects the ball: Bun he controls the ball with his gaze, which goes out of play for a corner after hitting the top of the goal post.

These are general exercises for what happens in the 20th minute, after the yellow card for Ladle in fact, on the corner developments, Pedro brush perfectly for cutting Patric: saved on the line by the providential intervention of clause. Then, on the rebound from the defense, the same player arrives from the wing Pedro, who doesn't think twice and curls his left foot towards the goal on first intention, giving the advantage to the capital, with a wonderful shot. Uncontainable exultation for the experienced Spanish striker, who dedicates the goal to his family. Having broken the fast in Europa League from the former Barcelona, ​​where he had not scored since 2022 and Lazio ahead 1-0.

Try to react the Nice after having completely suffered the initial forcing of the home team. The guests' centre of gravity rises and the first constant offensive forays of the Rossoneri also arrive. The first works also arrive for mandas, good at 31' to reject the low shot well aimed by Bounani. The Lazio but she is attentive and cynical and from this quarter of an hour of difficulty she comes out with the best possible result: the goal of the doubling. In fact, at 35' in the biancoceleste counterattack, Pedro finds the perfect pass for the cut of Castilians, lost by I enjoyed it: touch below to pass Bun and 2-0 for the Capitoline eagles.

There is no time or space to take a breath or allow for carelessness. Nice on the pitch he has quality and in the 41st minute he takes advantage of a defensive distraction by the boys Baroni to shorten the distances. Boce the action begins, attacking through the central routes: exchange with moukoko, who gives him the ball back very well with a delicate touch underneath, and the former Atalanta e Sassuolo on the fly it surpasses mandas, with a precise left-footed diagonal shot near the base of the far post. The match reopened right in the final moments of the first half and the teams went to the break with the score at 2-1. Much regret for the Biancocelesti who could have and perhaps deserved to close the first half of the game with a double advantage.

Second half

Two changes at half-time, both Lazio-branded: in fact, they come in rovella e Weather in Zaccagni, to Tchaouna e Dele-Bashiru, in a more defensive scheme, where Vecino is moved behind Castilians. The match was lively from the start in the second half. The rain continued to fall incessantly and the pitch at the Olimpico gradually became heavier. The ball began to stop in some of the puddles on the pitch, making it extremely dangerous to play the ball low to the ground, with the risk of the ball stopping. The physicality of the match thus increased and in the 51st minute a yellow card was shown for Bombito, guilty of an uncoordinated sliding tackle that hit Vecino, second yellow card for the guests.

La Lazio finds a perfect approach also in the second half and at 55' strikes again finding the double advantage. Ball recovered in the middle and rapid restart led by rovella, which serves vertically Castilians. A dry dribble in the area that leaves two opponents sitting down and a right-footed shot under the far post. The cry of joy is initially stifled, but after a long check at the VAR, the goal is validated, to the explosion of joy of the Olimpico. The Capitoline team finds the double goal margin with the result of 3-1.

The game continues and the Lazio begins to establish territorial superiority on the field. Weather in Zaccagni is cautioned for a hard sliding tackle near the opponent's area, but will have the chance to make up for it in the 66th minute. Because shortly after entering the field Day for Vecino, rovella the cut is needed again Castilians, who is brought down in the penalty area by Bun: Fesnić sees everything and orders the penalty, with a consequent yellow card for the Polish goalkeeper. On the spot goes Weather in Zaccagni, who is cool and crosses the shot with his right foot, beating the opposing goalkeeper, despite having guessed the trajectory of the ball. Result 4-1 for the Lazio and the game was put on ice.

Haise looks for solutions from the bench to try to make the deficit less heavy, in the end there are four changes for the Nice in one fell swoop: they enter Ndombele, Guessand, Cho e Abdi, as they leave the field Boudaoui, Boce, Bounani e clause. Baroni responds with the entry of Romagnoli for Crazy. A few minutes later two more changes, one for each side, it's time for Lazzari of Lazio for Marusic, in the red and blacks instead there is Diop for Rosary. Substitutions completed for both teams. The last chance for Nice came in the 79th minute with a left-footed volley from moukoko: Mandas flies to clear the ball. It is the last real chance of the match for both sides: in fact, the only thing to report is the yellow card for Pellegrini; in fact at 93' Fesnić whistles three times and orders the end of hostilities. Lazio beats 4-1 Nice and continues to fly on the wings of enthusiasm even in Europa League.