Sassuolo masters in Rome, Lazio sunk
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Lazio-Sassuolo 0-2. Beautiful in Europe, disappointing in the league. Pioli’s biancocelesti confirmed their ‘double-face’ season by losing sharply at home to Di Francesco’s neroverdi, the revelation team of Serie A. Berardi and Defrel knocked out the dull Lazio, who slipped to -10 points from the Europa zone.
First half played in slow motion due to heavy rain and a pitch in less than perfect conditions. The first squillo is neroverde, with Berisha coming out wrong at 37′ and Milinkovic anticipating Defrel at the last moment. At 40′ the guests’ lead breaks the balance on the pitch: Mauricio woefully knocks Defrel down in the box, from the penalty spot Berardi is cold and makes it 1-0. Lazio’s reaction is exhausted by a Parolo header, wide by a whisker.
Resume, the rain falls but Lazio remains unwatchable. The Capitolini create nothing in attack and dance in defense: at 62′, another blunder by the unspeakable Mauricio launches Berardi on a counterattack, who is hypnotized by Berisha on his way out.
The goal is only postponed: at 67′ Defrel slots a left-footed shot to make it 2-0 on an assist from Samson, after a ball lost by Bisevac. Pioli tries to shake things up by inserting Keita, Mauri and Djordjevic, but the Biancocelesti slowly fade away, the only chance being a Klose header off Candreva’s cross that found Consigli ready.
The hosts became unbalanced, and Sassuolo came close to scoring their third with Defrel and Sansone (goal disallowed for offside). Whistles at the end of the match.
