Torino 2-0 Lazio: Simeone & Zapata Add to Biancocelesti’s Woes | OneFootball

At the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, the home side secured a rebound victory at the expense of a disappointing and unmotivated Lazio.

Torino & Lazio Starting Lineup

On his Granata debut, Roberto D’Aversa opted for a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Nikola Vlasic starting behind Duvan Zapata and Giovanni Simeone. New signing Matteo Prati linked up with Gvidas Gineitis in the double pivot, while Valentino Lazaro and Rafael Obrador operated as wing-backs.

On the other hand, Maurizio Sarri kept his tried-and-trusted 4-3-3 system. Petar Ratkov led the line this time, flanked by Matteo Cancellieri and Mattia Zaccagni. In the middle of the park, Danilo Cataldi started between Reda Belahyane and Kenneth Taylor, while the backline was constituted of Adam Marusic, Alessio Romagnoli, Oliver Provstgaard, and Luca Pellegrini.

Giovanni Simeone Put Torino Ahead

After 20 forgettable minutes of sterile possession for Lazio, it was Torino who took the lead. Zapata’s shot was blocked by Romagnoli before falling inside the box, prompting a mix-up between Pellegrini and Ivan Provedel.

The left-back was waiting for his goalkeeper to come off his line and claim it, but he didn’t shield it well enough to prevent Simeone from poaching it. Provstgaard tried to pull off a goal-line clearance, but the ball had crossed the line.

First-Half Chances for Simeone & Belahyane

Simeone almost completed a swift brace after receiving a through ball from Vlasic. The Argentine escaped Provstgaard and tried to find the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but Provedel did well to parry it away.

At the end of the pitch, Lazio had their first real chance of the match when Zaccagni stormed into the box and cut it back to Belahyane, but the Moroccan’s shot was blocked.

Duvan Zapata Opens Two-Goal Cushion

After the interval, Sarri brought on Tijjani Noslin and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, expecting a reaction, but his men were chasing shadows, and ended up conceding a second goal in the 55th minute. Obrador had enough time and space on the left flank to send a sublime cross to the box. Zapata beat Provstgaard in the air to double Torino’s lead with a clinical header.

Wasteful Lazio Come Out Empty-Handed

Following the introduction of Nuno Tavares, Lazio’s left flank began to produce dangerous chances. However, Noslin failed to connect with the Portuguese full-back’s square ball, while Dele-Bashiru’s attempt was blocked by the backline. In the final minutes of the game, Romagnoli’s header bounced off the pitch, but Alberto Paleari still managed to stop it.

The Biancocelesti thus extended their winless run in Serie A to four matches, as they remain 10th in the table. Nevertheless, the supporters would be willing to let this woeful defeat slide if the team manages to secure a positive result when they host Atalanta on Wednesday in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final.

Torino 2-0 Lazio

Goalscorers: Simeone (21′, T), Zapata (53′, T).

Torino (3-5-2):  Paleari; Coco, Ismajli, Ebosse; Lazaro, Vlasic, Prati (Tameze 84′), Gineitis (Ilic 68′), Obrador (Nkounkou 73′); Simeone (Kulenović 84′), Zapata (Casadei 73′).

Lazio (4-3-3):  Provedel; Marusic, Romagnoli, Provstgaard, Pellegrini (Nuno Tavares 65′); Taylor, Cataldi, Belahyane (Dele-Bashiru 46′); Cancellieri (Isaksen 65′), Ratkov (Noslin 46′), Zaccagni (Dia 81′)

Referee: Rosario Abisso (Palermo section); Linesmen: Imperiale – Cavallina; 4th Official: Tremolada; VAR: Mazzoleni; AVAR: Paterna.

Booked: Gineitis (45+1′, T), Vlasic (79′, T), Tameze (90’+1′, T), Ulenovic (90’+2′, T), Nuno Tavares (90’+3′, L).