The 27th Serie A matchday kicked off with a clash between Lazio and Milan in the Italian capital. The match, which was evenly poised for a long time, became increasingly turbulent towards the end. In the end, three Roman starting eleven players were sent off – sometimes in strange circumstances – while the Rossoneri went on to win
At the start of the 27th matchday in Serie A, Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri left his captain and goalscorer Immobile on the bench ahead of the important second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against FC Bayern on Tuesday (9pm). At third-placed Milan, who had previously failed to win three times in the league, German international Thiaw was also initially left out.
Good chances were few and far between for both sides in the first half. In an intense duel with many mistakes, Vecino had Lazio’s only chance before the break, hitting the ball with his shin after a corner in front of goal (8′). After a slapstick interlude by Milan keeper Maignan, who had been put in trouble by Florenzi with a back pass and then slid into Rome’s Castellanos, the hosts demanded a penalty (13′). However, referee Marco di Bello’s whistle remained silent.
It took until stoppage time of the first half for Pulisic to have the first dangerous shot for the visitors. However, Lazio goalkeeper Provedel was able to deflect it out for a corner (45′ +1). The teams went into the half-time break goalless
Bitter traffic light card for Pellegrini – Rafael Leao’s goal does not count
After the break, Milan were initially more active – and from the 57th minute onwards, they were also outnumbered. After a curious scene: Lazio’s Pellegrini had initially stopped a counter-attack and was shown a yellow card (50′). A short time later, his team-mate Castellanos was lying on the ground and the Biancocelesti defender stopped play with his arms outstretched, probably wanting to let the ball pass out. But Milan’s Pulisic did not play along, cheekily stealing the ball from the Roman professional and attacking. Pellegrini then held the ex-Dortmund player and saw his second yellow (57′). A bitter scene for the hosts, who were outnumbered for over half an hour.
With just under a quarter of an hour to go, things got wild: first, Lazio goalkeeper Provedel made a great save from a Loftus-Cheek hammer, then Joker Immobile missed a free shot in front of goal (75′). A minute later, Rafael Leao gave the Rossoneri the lead but was ruled offside (76′).
Okafor with the lucky punch – Two more Romans fly
Shortly before the end of the game, the visitors finally managed to score the lucky punch in superior numbers: After Provedel had saved the first shot from substitute Okafor, the ball bounced back into the area. The Swiss was able to shoot again, Lazio’s goalkeeper was again on hand – but unfortunately for Rome, the ball fell behind the line to make it 0:1 (88′).
Events came thick and fast in stoppage time: First, Marusic saw straight red, presumably for insulting the referee (90. +4). Two minutes later, his team-mate Guendouzi was then held by Pulisic during a counter-attack, became very frustrated and pushed the American – the third sending-off – again straight red – for the Romans (90. +6) was the result. Shortly afterwards, it was the end of a racy game: Lazio’s dress rehearsal ahead of their clash with Bayern failed, while Milan, coached by Stefano Pioli, consolidated their Champions League aspirations with the win.
