UEL | Lazio 0-0 Ludogorets: Unlucky Aquile denied clear penalty | OneFootball

Lazio remain unbeaten in the Europa League, but saw their perfect record ended by a 0-0 with Ludogorets, as Matteo Guendouzi hit the crossbar and they were denied a clear penalty.

The Aquile were the only side with a 100 per cent record after four games and sat top of the table, but Marco Baroni missed Nuno Tavares and Gaetano Castrovilli, with Mattia Zaccagni, Taty Castellanos and Alessio Romagnoli not fully fit either, so used Tijjani Noslin as a centre-forward on his return from a ban. Ludogorets had just one point so far, plus both Caio Vidal and Rick suspended.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Noslin couldn’t control an over-hit Loum Tchaouna assist after Pedro sprung the offside trap and drew out the goalkeeper, then Boulaye Dia forced a tricky save at the near post after running into the box.

Hendrik Bonmann also made a desperate save from point-blank range on Dia after a deflected cross ricocheted into his path.

ROME, ITALY – NOVEMBER 28: Boulaye Dia of SS Lazio in action during the UEFA Europa League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between S.S. Lazio and PFC Ludogorets 1945 at Stadio Olimpico on November 28, 2024 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Marco Baroni made a triple change at half-time, but the tempo did not improve by much, as Pedro aimed a predictable effort straight at the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Manuel Lazzari fired over on the volley from a tricky angle and hit another wide from distance, but Lazio were furious on 72 minutes when Erick Marcus seemed to bring down Gustav Isaksen in the penalty area and the referee waved play on. Surprisingly, the Croatian referee Duje Strukan stood by his decision even after watching it again on the VAR monitor, publicly disagreeing with his own colleagues.

Matteo Guendouzi was unlucky not to win it for Lazio at the 86th minute with a ferocious right-foot finish from outside the box that smashed against the crossbar.