Baroni: ‘Lazio are alive, kicking and will fight to the end’ for top 4 | OneFootball

Marco Baroni heaps praise upon Lazio game changer Matias Vecino after the 1-1 draw with Juventus, insisting the team is ‘alive, kicking and will fight to the end’ for fourth place.

It was a chaotic encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, as the Aquile were trailing to a Randal Kolo Muani header and threw everything forward after Pierre Kalulu saw red on the hour mark for lashing out at Taty Castellanos.

They poured forward and had a penalty awarded, then taken away due to an offside position, until Vecino finally bundled over the line from point-blank range at the 96th minute.

ROME, ITALY – MAY 10: Fans of Lazio display a Tifo prior to the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on May 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

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“The first half was tense from both teams, unfortunately we made one mistake and paid for it, but the side kept cool, put in 29 crosses and if we had equalised earlier, then we might’ve gone on to win,” Baroni told DAZN.

“I am pleased with the performance, naturally not the result because we wanted to win, but the team is alive, kicking, and will fight to the end.”

This result means Lazio and Juventus remain locked together on 64 points, but could be leapfrogged by Roma on Monday, or see the chasing pack close the gap, as the fight for Champions League qualification is going down to the wire.

Baroni and Lazio still in the battle for top four

ROME, ITALY – MAY 10: Marco Baroni, Head Coach of Lazio, looks on prior to the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on May 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

“We are on a strong journey and when we are still in the fight for fourth at this stage of the season, it means we’ve made progress. We missed a few home wins, but the performances have been strong and the team feels the energy in this stadium,” insisted Baroni.

“We want to go all the way, absolutely.”

Lazio have shown a marked tendency to concede goals straight after the restart and it happened again today, where they came out for the second half without the right attitude.

ROME, ITALY – MAY 10: Matias Vecino of Lazio celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Matteo Guendouzi during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus at Stadio Olimpico on May 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Baroni made a bold move by taking off Nicoló Rovella, who was visibly angry at the decision, to introduce Matias Vecino.

“I think Vecino is an extraordinary player with such character and determination. I also like the way he plays the role in midfield, he times the runs perfectly. I would’ve made that change even if we hadn’t been against 10 men.

“Vecino raises the tempo, he is a player who can find those solutions. We wanted to stretch Juventus out, because they sit deep and then hurt you on the counter-attack. We had a game plan and that included the introduction of players who would give us more pace in attack.

“The real disappointment is that mistake on their goal, that is where we have regrets.”

Does the Lazio coach still stand with his decision to start Fisayo Dele-Bashiru rather than Boulaye Dia?

“We had to limit Locatelli, but at the same time I knew Dele-Bashiru could cause problems with his pace running in behind, and it did work a few times where we found our way through,” concluded Baroni.