The Biancocelesti are back to -5 from the Champions League zone. Final with ten men for Sarri after Gila was given a red card for a double yellow card
– Turin
Lazio wins, many regrets for Toro on a night that smacks of mockery. The Granatas play an hour of great football, in which they take the post with Sanabria and waste about ten opportunities. Then they were frozen by the one-two of Sarri’s team: first Guendouzi then Cataldi knocked out the Granata (0-2) and pushed the Biancocelesti to seventh place above Fiorentina. Lazio closed with ten men due to Gila’s expulsion, but Juric’s team couldn’t find the strength to recover a match which – due to the play and the opportunities produced – would undoubtedly have deserved not to lose. If not even more.
SANABRIA IMMEDIATELY
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Not even the time to take a seat in an Olimpico Grane Torino full of energy and enthusiasm before the stadium is already on its feet applauding Toro. The action that begins after five minutes is beautiful: illuminating opening by Vlasic, overflowing run by Bellanova with a kissing cross, sumptuous volley by Sanabria. Which is too clean (and beautiful) and prints neatly on the post. Juric’s team therefore starts very strong and will complete a first half conducted with great career: Toro challenges Maurizio Sarri on his ground, that of the dribble, and constantly attacks him at speed. The best first half of the Granata season emerged, with Lazio unable to interrupt the dribble in the central area between Linetty (at the limits of tactical perfection) and a very inspired Vlasic. Too much space given by Sarri on the two flanks, where Bellanova and Lazaro enter punctually and cause havoc.
7 to 0
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To give an even better idea of what Toro’s first half was, just count the chances: in the middle of the evening, there were seven from Toro, none from Lazio (excluding a weak, central shot from Immobile which cannot be considered as such). After Sanabria’s post, Zapata tries in turn (10′ and 35′: two high headers), Sanabria again (18′: conclusion into the hands of Provedel), Vlasic (22′: high header from a cross of Lazaro). The golden opportunity falls at the feet of Vlasic (37′): Bellanova breaks through again on the right, Vlasic takes up his teammate’s invitation with a soft touch that forces Provedel into an amazing save. Before the break, Vlasic’s shot misses the target (41′) and then Masina comes close to taking the lead with a header (’43). If there was a fault in this glittering Bull it was that of not finding the goal after so much play and after such a clear supremacy.
ONE-TWO LAZIO
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After the interval Sarri takes action by replacing Hysaj with Lazzari. After two minutes, Bellanova’s gallop starts again: another descent, another assist, another opportunity not realized by Zapata. A moment later Vlasic solos: he sits Cataldi down, takes off, but the right hits the boards. In the fifth minute the freezing shower arrives from Toro: Luis Alberto invents a ball for Guendouzi completely lost by Ilic, Sarri’s midfielder passes Milinkovic who does nothing to avoid the goal. On the first occasion, Lazio managed to come out of a long moment of difficulty to take the lead. Juric brings a dull Ilic back to the bench, throwing Ricci into the fray. In the 12th minute Lazio’s one-two arrives which is a blow for Toro: Cataldi opens the ball from outside the area, Milinkovic starts again late. It’s two nil. Ten minutes from the end, Lazio are left with ten men due to a double yellow card for Gila (foul on Zapata). But Toro doesn’t have the energy and ends an evening full of regrets.
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