Alessio Romagnoli Strikes Again as Lazio & Udinese Play Out Cagey Draw | OneFootball

Lazio squandered their chance to retain 4th place in the Serie A table after settling for a draw with Udinese, thus extending their uninspiring run at the Stadio Olimpico.

Lazio Starting Lineup

Marco Baroni lost Nicolo Rovella and Nuno Tavares on the eve of the contest due to slight muscle problems, leaving him with a makeshift lineup. With Taty Castellanos still out of action, Loum Tchaouna started in attack, supported by Gustav Isaksen, Boulaye Dia and Mattia Zaccagni, while Matias Vecino and Matteo Guendouzi connected in midfield.

Alessio Romagnoli Equalizes for Lazio

After an eventful 20 minutes of play, it was the Zebrette who opened the scoring. Florian Thauvin stormed into the box taking advantage of the large spaces left at the back.

Ivan Provedel was able to deny his initial effort, but Manuel Lazzari’s clearance was too tame, thus allowing Lorenzo Lucca to try his luck with an audacious overhead-kick. While his effort was off target, it turned out to be an inadvertent assist for Thauvin who latched onto the ball to smash it past the goalkeeper from close range.

Alessio Romagnoli Equalizes for Lazio

Nevertheless, the Biancocelesti were able to respond 10 minutes later. Zaccagni’s shot was denied by Maduka Okeye, resulting in a corner kick for the home side. Isaksen’s delivery was headed towards the far post by Vecino, and Romagnoli was the first to react, thus poaching the equalizer, only four days removed from his goal in the Czech Republic.

Noticeable Absence

With the momentum in their favour, many would have expected Lazio to push for a second, but they hardly had a crack at goal for the remainder of the contest, as the absence of Rovella in the middle of the park was heavily felt. Without the influential Regista, the team failed to find any sort of rhythm throughout the contest.

Wasted Opportunity for Lazio

The second half was a largely forgettable affair, with the most memorable moment being Jordan Zemura’s dipping freekick which was denied by an excellent save from Provedel. Therefore, Lazio have failed to make the most out of Juve’s humbling defeat to Atalanta, as they remain 5th in the standings, albeit they managed to reduce the gap with the Bianconeri to a single point.

Lazio 1-1 Udinese

Goals : 22′ Thauvin (U), 32′ Romagnoli (L).

Lazio (4-2-3-1):  Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Marusic; Guendouzi, Vecino (65′ Belahyane); Isaksen (81′ Patric), Dia (65′ Pedro), Zaccagni; Tchaouna (46′ Noslin).

UDINESE (3-5-2):  Okoye; Kristensen, Bijol, Solet; Ehizibue (89′ Modesto), Lovric (65′ Zemura), Karlstrom, Ekkelenkamp (65′ Payero), Kamara (65′ Atta); Thauvin (81′ Davis), Lucca.

Referee : Piccinini from Forlì

Yellow cards: 8′ Kamara (U), 52′ Vecino (L), 62′ Lazzari (L), 76′ Payero (U), 91′ Karlstrom (U).