Lazio 2-1 Pisa: Sarri & Pedro Sign Off With a Victory | OneFootball

While they won’t look back fondly on this campaign, Lazio have at least managed to end it with a victory at the expense of Pisa, who bid the top flight goodbye.

Lazio Starting Lineup

Maurizio Sarri handed Pedro a starting role in his final match in Lazio colors. The Spaniard started on the left wing of an attacking trident that also included Tijjani Noslin and Matteo Cancellieri. The rest of the 4-3-3 formation featured an unusual midfield trio of Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Toma Basic and Reda Belahyane, who filled in for the suspended Nicolo Rovella and Kenneth Taylor.

Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli started at the heart of the backline, while Adam Marusic played on the right, and Luca Pellegrini replaced the banned Nuno Tavares on the left. Alessio Furlanetto earned his second starting berth due to the continued absence of the injured Ivan Provedel and Edoardo Motta.

Lazio & Pisa Trade Blow

Pisa almost scored in the first minute of the match, but Isak Vural’s attempt whistled past the far post. The Biancocelesti responded with a series of chances, beginning with an attempt from Belahyane that went just too high. Adrian Samper denied Cancellieri and Pedro’s shots, while Marusic hit the outside of the post.

Morfeo Gives Pisa a Surprising Lead

In the 23rd minute, the Tuscans stunned the meager crowd at the Olimpico by snatching the lead against the run of play. Belahyane was dispossessed by Arturo Calabresi in the middle of the park. The defender then picked up Michel Aebisher on the channel, and the latter sent a cross to the box that was headed home by Sefano Moreo.

Pisa almost doubled their lead through a vicious close-range strike from Samuele Angori, but Furlanetto pulled off a sensational stop to prevent an embarrassing scoreline.

Lazio Pull Off a Comeback Through Dele-Bashiru & Pedro

In the 33rd minute, Belahyane atoned for himself by setting up the equalizer for Lazio. The young Moroccan won his duel against Aebischer before finding Dele-Bashiru on the edge of the box. The Nigerian nimbly turned towards goal and fired a low drive to the bottom corner, leaving Samper with no chance.

It only took the Aquile two minutes to complete the comeback thanks to Pedro, who simply had to score on this evening. The veteran played a quick give-and-go with Noslin before expertly finding the bottom corner.

Lazio Maintain Slender Lead

Unlike the eventful first half, the second period hardly witnessed any real chances, except for an early attempt from Noslin early on, and one from Daniel Maldini in the final minutes, which was parried away by Samper.

The real highlight of the second half was Pedro’s exit at the hour mark. The former Barcelona and Chelsea star was given a standing ovation followed by a warm embrace from his teammates and Sarri, who is also expected to leave the club and sign for Atalanta in the coming days or weeks.

In the end, Lazio’s win will guarantee them a 9th-place finish, and the fans can only hope that the mood at the Olimpico will be less somber when the action resumes in August.

Lazio 2-1 Pisa

Goalscorers: 23′ Moreo (P), 33′ Dele-Bashiru (L), 35′ Pedro (L)

Lazio (4-3-3): Furlanetto; Marusic, Gila (46′ Provstgaard), Romagnoli, Pellegrini (81′ Lazzari); Dele-Bashiru (81′ Przyborek), Basic, Belahyane; Cancellieri (71′ Maldini), Noslin, Pedro (60′ Dia). 

Pisa (3-5-2): Samper; Calabresi (76′ Bettazzi), Canestrelli, Bozhinov; Leris (71′ Cuadrado), Akinsanmiro (46′ Hojholt), Aebischer (62′ Loyola), Vural, Angori; Moreo, Stojilkovic (62′ Piccinini).  

Referee: Ferrieri Caputi (Livorno section); Linesmen: Niedda – Emmanuele; Fourth Official: Di Marco; VAR: Ghersini; AVAR: Piccinini.