Lazio secured a convincing 3-0 victory against Hansa Rostock in their recent friendly match, showcasing their attacking strength and tactical cohesion. The match, held in Germany, saw Mattia Zaccagni score the opener in the first half, followed by second-half goals from Valentin Castellanos and Mohammed Tchaouna. Castellanos was particularly impressive, not only scoring but also providing assists for both of the other goals. He even added a lovely goal with a rabona that was unfortunately ruled out for a tight offside.
Despite facing several absences due to injury, including players like Gila and Tavares, and others like Romagnoli and Castrovilli still recovering, coach Marco Baroni fielded a strong lineup in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Ivan Provedel started in goal with Lazzari and Marusic as full-backs, while the central defense partnership featured Casale and Patric. In midfield, Rovella and Vecino controlled the play, supported by the attacking trio of Isaksen, Guendouzi, and Zaccagni behind the central striker Castellanos.
The match began with Lazio asserting themselves, creating early chances through Castellanos and Guendouzi. As the first half progressed, Hansa Rostock found their rhythm, testing Provedel with a few opportunities. However, Lazio regained control toward the end of the half, culminating in Zaccagni’s goal from a well-executed team play—Guendouzi delivered a cross that Castellanos flicked on for Zaccagni to nod home.
In the second half, Lazio’s confidence grew as they extended their lead. Castellanos netted the second goal after a slick buildup involving Isaksen and Guendouzi. Though Zaccagni’s stunning rabona goal was disallowed for offside, Tchaouna soon scored the third, capitalizing on an assist from Castellanos. Late in the game, Lazio nearly scored again through Dele-Bashiru.
At the conclusion of the match, Baroni expressed his satisfaction with the performance, acknowledging that while Hansa Rostock is a lower-division team, they are ahead in their preparation for the upcoming season. He noted the team’s growing understanding of tactical systems and highlighted the compactness of their play. Regarding the captain’s armband, Baroni confirmed that the decision to officially designate Zaccagni as captain is final.
