Lazio extended their lead at the top with a fourth consecutive Serie A victory, beating Parma 2-1 at the Olimpico on Saturday. Gennaro Gattuso’s side had to wait until the second half to turn territorial control into goals, while Parma again left empty-handed under Alberto Gilardino despite a late response from substitute Lontani.
A demanding first half at the Olimpico
Gattuso retained the team that had beaten Juventus, with Cancellieri fit enough for the bench but Pinamonti unavailable because of tracheitis. Parma made three changes from the side defeated by Torino: Drobnic came into defence, while Ordonez and Sierro started in midfield.
- Lazio started in a 4-3-3: Mandas; Floriani, Sutalo, Provstgaard, Tavares; Frattesi, Belahyane, Taylor; Isaksen, Noslin, Zaccagni.
- Parma lined up in a 3-5-2: Corvi; Diego Carlos, Troilo, Drobnic; Delprato, Ordonez, Sierro, Keita, Valeri; Romero, Touré.
- Parma created the first opening after six minutes, when Mandas rushed out to stop Romero.
- Two minutes later, Lazio appealed strongly when Troilo held Frattesi in the penalty area. Referee Alberto Ruben Arena ruled against a penalty and there was no VAR intervention.
- Mandas was soon needed again, flying to turn away Touré’s header, as Parma showed threat on the break despite Lazio’s command of possession.
- Lazio went close midway through the half when Isaksen headed against the crossbar. Mandas then denied Romero once more, before Delprato sent an effort wide for the visitors.
- Isaksen had the ball in the net shortly before the interval, but the effort was disallowed for offside and a foul by the Danish forward. Corvi also saved from Taylor and Floriani before the break.
Lazio had around 70 per cent of the ball, but the score remained level at half-time because Mandas had made key interventions at the other end and Parma maintained their defensive discipline.
Taylor breaks the resistance
- Both coaches altered their sides at the restart. Diogo Leite replaced Provstgaard for Lazio, while Bernabè took the place of Sierro for Parma.
- Five minutes into the second half, Taylor gave Lazio the breakthrough with his first league goal of the season. The Dutch midfielder struck a left-footed shot from outside the box beyond Corvi.
- Eight minutes later, Lazio doubled the advantage. Tavares delivered from the left and Diego Carlos, attempting to cut out the cross, turned the ball into his own goal.
- Gilardino responded by bringing on Lontani for Ordonez, then introduced Frigan for Diego Carlos and Fabbian for Romero. Lazio replaced Taylor with Dele-Bashiru, before Pedraza and Lazzari entered for Zaccagni and Isaksen.
- Corvi came out sharply to deny Zaccagni, while Dele-Bashiru fired over and Frattesi sent a late attempt narrowly wide as Lazio searched for a third goal.
Parma remained in the contest without finding much room against a Lazio side that managed the closing stages with greater calm. A Valeri cross narrowly evaded Touré, while Lontani’s effort from the left hinted at the danger that remained.
Late Parma goal cannot change the outcome
Seven minutes of added time gave Parma one last route back into the match. Deep into stoppage time, Lontani sent a cross-shot towards goal which bounced off the post and past Mandas, reducing the deficit.
It was too late to unsettle Lazio’s result. The Biancocelesti collected another three points and moved further clear at the summit while awaiting Inter’s meeting with Fiorentina. For Gilardino, the defeat was a third in succession and his tenure remains without a point.
