Important draw for the Lazio than on the third day of Champions League he broke the 1-1 at home Zenit St. Petersburg, maintaining the unbeaten run in Group F. Despite numerous absences, Inzaghi’s team was able to respond in the second half to the advantage signed by Erokhin at 32 ‘after a triangulation of the head between Dzyuba and Kuzyaev. Nine minutes from the end, the winning leg of Caicedo restored the balance.
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After Bruges also St. Petersburg. Despite the full emergency of Lazio in this Champions League, history of more or less positive tampons, the team of Simone Inzaghi he once again threw his heart over the obstacle outside the national borders by snatching a very important 1-1 at Zenit. The goal was decisive with nine minutes remaining Caicedo, more and more important for the Biancocelesti, after a complicated game, not spectacular but well managed. The final scare with the goal canceled – quite rightly – a Mostovoy it only served to make Lazio lose their breath for a few moments.
Yet Caicedo, always the “Panterone” is the Lazio man-cover after the last second game at Torino in the league. With his left leg from the edge of the area with nine minutes left, the Ecuadorian gave a key point in the Champions race of Lazio, with Inzaghi’s team unbeaten after the first round of group F and with two out of three games, also in an emergency, played away.
Five points for Lazio, one for Zenit waiting for the other match of the group, but in addition to this – important – to underline was the compactness of the Biancocelesti, especially after going behind in the 32nd minute for the goal of Erokhin, good at freeing himself in the area on an assist from Dzyuba after a triangulation of the head of the Russian strikers on the edge of Reina’s area.
In the second half, without overdoing it but relying on quality in the dribble and patience, Lazio was able to manage the moments of the match avoiding collecting the second goal and waiting for the right moment at the gate, the one to put a far from impenetrable Zenit rearguard. The right action came in the 81st minute from the left, finished by Acerbi in an assistman version and ended by Caicedo’s first goal in the Champions League.
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REPORT CARDS
Caicedo 7 – More and more the man of providence, finds a great first intention goal with the left-handed from the edge of the area. A network that could prove more important than it seems.
Muriqi 5 – Colorless proof of the designated substitute of the Property. Cumbersome and predictable, he just pulls off a harmless header.
Milinkovic-Savic 6 – It takes the body to try to create some problems for the opponents. He wins a few duels and in the end he raises his position to draw the joker, touching him only by centimeters. The madness in full recovery (canceled by the Var) lowers his vote.
Correa 5,5 – He does not turn on the light with his imagination fading against the physicality of the Zenith defense. He does not find the winning play even in the final when he gets a weak shot blocked by Kherzakov.
Erokhin 6,5 – First career goal in the Champions League to crown a good entry in the area. Behind Dzyuba he shows some interesting ideas.
Dzyuba 6.5 – Its flaws are well known, but also its merits. Among these are the high balls and it is precisely by exploiting the body that starts a triangulation of the head that leads to the goal of the advantage.
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THE TABLE
ZENIT SAINT PETERSBURG-LAZIO 1-1
Zenit (4-3-3): Kerzhakov 6; Karavaev 5, Lovren 5.5, Rakitskyi 6, Santos 6; Ozdoev 5.5 (46 ‘st Sutormin sv), Barrios 6, Erokhin 6.5 (16’ st Mostovoy 6); Kuzyayev 6.5 (46 ‘st Wendel sv), Dzyuba 6.5, Zhirkov 5.5 (34’ st Krugovoy sv). A disp .: Lunev, Vasyutin, Mostovoy, Prokhin, Shamkin. All .: Semak 6.
Lazio (3-5-2): Reina 6; Patric 6, Hoedt 5.5, Acerbi 6.5; Marusic 5.5, Akpa-Akpro 6, Parolo 5.5 (7 ‘st Cataldi 6), Milinkovic-Savic 6, Fares 5.5 (14’ st Pereira 6.5); Correa 5.5 (40 ‘st Luiz Felipe sv), Muriqi 5 (14’ st Caicedo 7). Available: Furlanetto, Alia, Armini, Bertini, Czyz, Franco, Pica. Coach: Inzaghi 6.5.
Referee: Artur Dias (Portogallo)
Markers: 32′ Erokhin (Z), 36′ st Caicedo (L)
Ammonites: Kuzayev, Barrios, Lovren (Z); Akpa Akpro, Milinkovic Savic, Caicedo, Reina (L)
Expelled: nobody
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OPTA STATISTICS
Lazio are unbeaten against Russian teams in major European competitions (1W, 4N), conceding just two goals in five total matches.
It was since March 2001 that Lazio had not remained undefeated for three matches in a row in the Champions League (1W, 2N).
For the first time, Lazio remained unbeaten after the first three games of the group stage in an edition of the Champions League (1W, 2N).
Zenit have won only one of five matches against Italian teams in the Champions League (2N, 2P), collecting only two clean sheets in the partial.
Lazio have conceded goals in 10 consecutive away games in European competition for the first time – 2.1 goals conceded in the period.
Lazio have found the net with one of only three shots in the mirror made, only against Sampdoria (zero) have they made fewer this season between league and cups.
Felipe Caicedo scored in two consecutive races considering all competitions for the first time since April 2019.
Caicedo has scored Lazio’s last two goals in all competitions, after scoring only one of the previous 25 goals of the Capitoline between league and cups.
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