Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel was the most celebrated man at Lazio – after his last-minute goal against Atletico Madrid.
Ivan Provedel started running. As if he knew what was going to happen. A quick start was enough; no one followed the Lazio goalkeeper in his bright yellow jersey. What a mistake. Luis Alberto’s cross sailed into the penalty area with perfect timing and Provedel levered himself into the air. Header. Goal. In the last second of stoppage time.
“It’s an incredible feeling. I’m not used to scoring a goal,” said Provedel, whose last-minute goal secured Lazio’s 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in their Champions League opener.
Lazio keeper Provedel is the fourth goalkeeper to score in the Champions League
The 29-year-old seemed a bit confused after his big moment and didn’t seem to know how to celebrate. But then his colleagues around former Bundesliga professionals Ciro Immobile and Daichi Kamada quickly came running towards him and buried the hero of the evening under themselves.
Provedel said he had put “everything on one card”, “the most important thing is not my goal, but that I saved this point”. Referee Slavko Vincic didn’t even start the game again.
For Provedel, who was only the fourth goalkeeper ever and only the second goalkeeper to score a goal from play in the history of the premier class, it was the second goal among the professionals. He had already scored from the game in 2020. At that time he also secured a point with his head for his club Juve Stabia in a 2-2 draw at Ascoli Calcio in Serie B.
When the cross came on the big stage, Provedel thought of Immobile. After all, he said, he had “studied” the ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker for a long time: “I see him make these movements every day.” And in the end, even Atletico coach Diego Simeone said: “A great goal.”