Lazio 2-2 Fiorentina: Pedro’s Injury-Time Salvages a Point for Striker-Less Aquile

At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Lazio and Fiorentina shared the spoils following a dramatic and controversial finale.

Lazio & Fiorentina Starting Lineups

With Taty Castellanos off to West Ham, Boulaye Dia participating in the AFCON and Tijjani Noslin suspended, Maurizio Sarri picked Matteo Cancellieri as a makeshift striker to lead the line, flanked by Gustav Isaksen and Mattia Zaccagni. In midfield, Matteo Guendouzi made his final home appearance for Lazio ahead of his expected move to Fenerbahce, joined by Danilo Cataldi and Toma Basic.

Fiorentina boss Paolo Vanoli also opted for a 4-3-3 system, Roberto Piccoli was once again favored over Moise Kean, supported by Albert Gudmundsson and Fabiano Parisi. In midfield, Nicolo Fagioli acted as a deep-lying playmaker, in between Rolando Mandragora and Che Ndour.

Dominant Lazio Failed to Score in First Half

The Biancocelesti made their intentions clear from the get-go, launching a quick onslaught on Fiorentina’s goal. Cancellieri put Basic through on goal, but David De Gea made himself big to deny the midfielder. A few minutes later, Isaksen squandered a promising two-on-two counter-attack with a weak pass.

Mario Gila came extremely close to scoring from a corner kick, but his initial header was cleared off the line by Fagioli. The Spanish defender then won the rebound, but his shot was cleared by Mandragora. The Tuscans managed to absorb Lazio’s pressure and weather the storm, forcing a slower tempo in the final 20 minutes or so of the first period.

Danilo Cataldi Puts Lazio Ahead

Seven minutes after the interval, Lazio took a deserved lead. Luca Pellegrini’s cross was cleared by the Viola backline, but Cataldi was in the right place to pick up the loose ball. He skipped past Fagioli with a deft touch, played a sublime give-and-go with Matias Vecino, before beating De Gea with a clinical left-footed shot.

Robin Gosens Grabs Quick Equalizer for Fiorentina

The Aquile’s lead was short-lived, as a collision between Caltaldi and Mario Gila gifted the ball to Fagioli, who picked up Gosens with an inch-perfect through ball. The German left-back did well to control the ball and find the far corner with a superb finish.

Astonishing Double Save from David De Gea

In the 78th minute, Lazio almost restored their lead when Cataldi’s free-kick found Gila who directed the ball goalwards with a powerful low header, but De Gea pulled off a fantastic reaction save. Alessio Romagnoli was there to pounce on the rebound, but his shot hit the legendary Manchester United goalkeeper, who perhaps didn’t know much about it.

Fiorentina Given Controversial Spot-Kick

In the final minutes of normal time, Lazio felt hard done by the refereeing once more. While the VAR failed to intervene in the first period when the Biancocelesti were denied a penalty, they did so on Fiorentina’s behalf when Gudmundsson made the most out of Gila’s minimal contact. The Icelandic then beat Ivan Provedel, who put a hand on the ball, but not enough power to stop it.

Mattia Zaccagni & Pedro Save the Day

Just when Lazio looked to be staring at a second home defeat in three days, Zaccagni won a spot-kick following a wonderful turn that forced Pietro Comuzzo to drag him down. Pedro stepped up to convert it, coolly placing the ball past his compatriot, De Gea, who guessed the corner, but couldn’t get near it.

In the end, a depleted Lazio side dropped another two points, but they’ll be hoping that the incoming reinforcement will help light up what has thus far been a forgettable campaign.

Lazio 2-2 Fiorentina

Goalscorers: 52′ Cataldi (L), 56′ Gosens (F), 89′ Gundmundsson (F), 95′ Pedro (L)

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari (79′ Hysaj), Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Cataldi, Basic (29′ Vecino); Isaksen (71′ Pedro), Cancellieri, Zaccagni. 

Fiorentina (4-3-3): De Gea; Dodô, Pongracic, Comuzzo, Gosens (68′ Ranieri); Mandragora, Fagioli, Ndour (68′ Solomon); Parisi (92′ Nicolussi Caviglia), Piccoli (60′ Kean), Gudmundsson (92′ Pablo Marì). 

Referee: Sozza; Linesmen: Lo Cicero – Di Gioia; Fourth Official: Crezzini; VAR: Pezzuto; AVAR: Prontera.

Yellow cards: 20′ Pongracic (F), 21′ Gosens (F), 26′ Cancellieri (L), 55′ Parisi (F), 71′ Fagioli (F), 83′ Zaccagni (L), 96′ Nicolussi Caviglia (F).