Lazio loses at Braga, but qualifies as first

Rome, 31 January 2025 – The Lazio fails to close the Europa League championship phase undefeated, finding defeat against Braga. At the Estadio Municipal de Braga the goal decides Riccardo Horta at 5', the only one of the match. For the Biancocelesti it is a painless defeat, given that equally in first place, while Braga leaves the Europa League.

The starting lineups

Il Braga he lines up with a 4-3-3 with Hornicek in goal, Victor Gomez, Paulo Oliveira, Niakaté and Chissumba in defence, Roger Fernandes, Gorby and Moutinho in midfield and Riccardo Horta, El Ouazzani and Gharbi in attack. Baroni responds with the classic 4-2-3-1 with several surprises in the starting lineup. Mandas defends the Biancoceleste goal parts, Marusic, Gigot, Romagnoli and Pellegrini make up the rearguard, the midfield is formed by Dele-Bashiru and Gila, while Tchaouna, Pedro and Noslin form the trident behind Castellanos.

First half

Il Braga starts aggressively and wins three corners in the first four minutes, Lazio defends well but in the 5th minute the Portuguese take the lead with Riccardo Horta, who scores from a low cross from Victor gomezThe hosts wanted to take advantage of the favorable moment, and in the 12th minute Gorby try to surprise mandas from outside the area, but the Biancocelesti goalkeeper is ready and blocks it comfortably. As the minutes pass, Lazio reorganizes and tries to take control of the game. The Biancocelesti's first offensive action comes in the 20th minute, with Tchaouna that appears before Hornicek but it is closed in a corner. From the developments of the corner, the Biancocelesti earn a free kick from the edge, with Pedro who grazes the post with a curling right-footed shot. A key moment in the match comes in the 26th minute, when Niakate he is forced to leave the field following a muscle injury, in his place comes on Arrey-Over. Lazio took control of the game and remained firmly in the home team's half waiting for the right opportunity. In the 21st minute, however, Braga became dangerous again, but Victor Gomez's low cross was met by no one. In the 35th minute Pedro he almost scored the equaliser with a delightful lob that went over Hornicek, but the referee disallowed the whole thing for offside. In the 43rd minute he tried noslin, but the shot is blocked. The most lively player of Lazio is certainly Tchaouna, but all the crosses he puts into the penalty area are blocked by the defense. The last chance of the first half is for the Biancocelesti: Pellegrini cross from the left and Marusic who heads the ball high over the crossbar of Hornicek's goal. The first half ends with Braga in the lead.

Second half

In the second half, he tries Castilians in the 47th minute with a shot from outside, but the conclusion is blocked. On the corner Hornicek smacks to avoid the tap-in header from the Biancocelesti number 11. Braga increases the pressure and appears in the penalty area with Horta, but his shot is blocked by the Biancoceleste defence. After a slow start, the Portuguese resume their attack, with Lazio holding out. At 56' noslin serves Pedro in the middle of the pitch, the Spaniard enters the penalty area but fails to shoot on goal. Braga tries to hurt Lazio on the sidelines, once again with low crosses, but the Biancocelesti defense holds. Braga seems to have taken Lazio's measure, so Baroni decides to change the cards on the table by inserting Isaac in place of Tchaouna. The new arrival comes forward with a right-footed shot following a free kick in the 66th minute, with Hornicek having to make his first real save of the match. Lazio tries to take courage and throws itself back into Braga's half. In the 68th minute, however, the Portuguese restart well on the counterattack, with Crazy who is forced to use the yellow to stop El Ouazzani at 60'. The Biancocelesti are now pushing mainly with Isaac, who with a poisonous cross forces Hornicek to the slap. Baroni replaces Gila with Day to make his team more offensive. Now Lazio is all in Braga's half and is looking for the equaliser with more vehemence. At 74' he tries again Castilians from outside the area, but the shot ends up outside the goal. In the 77th minute Braga tries to get back on the attack with Roger Fernandes, but his left-footed shot ends up comfortably in the arms of Mandas. Shortly after, Braga's number 11 is replaced by Gabri MartinezLazio came very close to equalising in the 81st minute with noslin, who heads the ball on the cross from Isaac, this time Hornicek is very good at blocking. In the 84th minute the Braga goalkeeper saves Lazio again, lifting a shot over the crossbar Dele Bashiru from outside the area, but now Lazio pushes hard. At 86' Day he appears in front of the Braga goalkeeper but sends it out. The attacker, however, was in an irregular position. Richard Horta he misses the 2-0 one-on-one mandas in the 87th minute. In the 88th minute two more changes arrive for Lazio: Zazza e Bucket for Pellegrini e Castilians, while Braga replaces Whoa! e Victor gomez with Adrian Marin e Ferreira. In the recovery minutes it is still Lazio who push, with Marusic who kicks weakly into Hornicek's arms. With Lazio all on the attack, Braga has space to counterattack, and in the 4th minute of injury time Martinez finds the net for 2-0, but it is all disallowed by the referee for offside. The match ends with a 1-0 victory for the Portuguese.

The match scoreboard

Braga (4-3-3): Hornicek; Victor Gomez (88' Ferreira), Paulo Oliveira, Niakaté (26' Arrey-Mbi), Chissumba (88' Adrian Martin); Roger Fernandes (79' Gabri Martinez), Gorby, Moutinho; Riccardo Horta, El Ouazzani, Gharbi. Coach: Carvahal. Lazio (4-2-3-1): Mandas; Marusic, Gigot, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (88' Zazza); Dele-Bashiru, Gila (71' Dia); Tchaouna (66' Isaksen), Pedro, Noslin; Castellanos (88' Balde). Coach: Baroni. Referee: Brooks. Goalscorers: 5' Riccardo Horta. Yellow cards: 68' Gila