The Lazio football team showcased a remarkable performance during their recent friendly match in England against Southampton, even though they faced a tough start. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, marking the only summer engagement for the Biancocelesti against a top-flight English team. Matches in the summer are less about results and more about preparation, and both sides had their moments, with Lazio hitting the woodwork three times.
The game kicked off with Brereton-Diaz scoring in just the fifth minute, capitalizing on a mistake from Isaksen. He received a pass from former Juventus player Alcaraz and skillfully maneuvered around Lazzari and Cataldi before beating Provedel. Lazio’s offensive effort was led by Castellanos, who was active throughout. He played a key role in the 27th minute, winning the ball back and feeding Isaksen, who was unable to convert. Castellanos almost equalized the score in the 30th minute with a near miss, but shortly after, he scored an outstanding overhead kick, leveling the match at 1-1.
The Biancocelesti continued to press forward, and just a minute later, Lazzari squandered a great chance, hitting the post with an open goal. With growing confidence, Lazio kept creating opportunities, and in the 42nd minute, McCarthy made a crucial save on Isaksen, who was beautifully set up by Pellegrini.
In the second half, Lazio raised their intensity and looked dangerous time and again, hitting the woodwork twice more—once from Isaksen and once from Castellanos. Zaccagni also missed a golden opportunity, thanks to a clever back-heel pass from Castellanos. Towards the end, Mandas made a significant stop on a shot from Edozie.
A tense moment occurred midway through the second half when Alcaraz and Romagnoli were both sent off after a flare-up, but overall, Lazio left a strong impression with their fresh and organized play, particularly courtesy of Castellanos’ standout performance. Coach Marco Baroni also utilized players Gila and Castrovilli during the match. While the draw meant that other aspects of the game were more significant than the final result, Lazio has shown promise as they prepare for their upcoming match against Venezia on August 18th, following one last friendly against Cadiz this weekend.