Lazio beaten 2-1 away by Porto in the first leg of the Europa League playoff, played at the ‘Do Dragao’ stadium in the Portuguese city. The biancocelesti took the lead with a heel strike from Zaccagni in the 23rd minute and made a comeback from the brace of Toni Martinez, who scored in the 37th and 49th minutes. In a week the return to the Olimpico in Rome to determine who passes to the round of 16.
THE MATCH – The hosts approach the match with great enthusiasm, pressing on the accelerator in the first ten minutes. Sarri’s boys let the storm pass and slowly gain meters, taking advantage of the dribble of the midfielders and the three movement points. In the absence of Immobile, in fact, the watchword is not to give points of reference and the Biancocelesti do the job well, taking the lead on 23 minutes thanks to Zaccagni, very good at deflecting a cross from Luis Alberto with his heel. A beautiful goal that gives confidence to the Capitoline.
Lazio seem to be in total control of the match and even close to doubling with Milinkovic-Savic, who finds a monumental response from Diogo Costa. However, the former Conceiçao team is surprised and finds the equalizer with a perfect twist from Toni Martinez, who clearly anticipates a static Luiz Felipe and signs the 1-1.
At the beginning of the second half, Luiz Felipe still leaves some space for the Spanish striker, still lethal in the fourth minute. Two crosses from the right, two distractions, two goals conceded and the match overturned. At this point the boys from Conceiçao, returned to the field with another step (and with two new players, Galeno and Vitinha), lower the pace and try to take advantage of every slightest smudge from the Biancocelesti. Toni Martinez is unleashed and only a flight by Strakosha prevents him from scoring the hat-trick; it is the most delicate moment for Lazio, which collects the blows and begins to feel the lack of the Torre Annunziata bomber.
Nobody attacks the depth, the only one to fill the area is Milinkovic-Savic, who tries to imitate Zaccagni but does not find the goal, while the best is the author of the goal, at times impregnable. Sarri tries to play the cards Cabral and Raul Moro, but the moves of the Tuscan coach do not have the desired effects. It ends 2-1, the Olimpico will need a large building.