In pursuit of continuing their bragging rights over Salernitana following a hat-trick of H2H victories, Lazio began assertively as Mattia Zaccagni fired inches over the top of the crossbar. In the wake of never registering a point at the Stadio Olimpico, Salernitana were dealt a blow after only 10 minutes when influential central-defender Norbert Gyömbér pulled up sharply, attempting to keep a check on Zaccagni, and was forced off.
Unbeaten in 34 of their last 38 home league encounters, the hosts thought they were ahead in the 21st minute, only for the offside flag to deny Felipe Anderson his third goal of the league campaign. However, with HT fast approaching, Lazio were ahead after Zaccagni directed Luis Alberto’s defence-splitting pass beyond the helpless figure of Luigi Sepe.
On course to register a record-equalling seventh successive SA clean sheet, Maurizio Sarri’s side should have doubled their lead in the opening embers of the second half, only for Nicolò Casale to somehow fire straight at the onrushing Sepe. They were then made to pay after missing a gilt-edged chance, as former Lazio player Antonio Candreva returned to haunt his former employers. In the wake of wearing the iconic Biancocelesti jersey on over 150 occasions, Candreva silenced his former stamping ground with an exquisitely flighted chip over the head of Ivan Provedel.
Despite being only one booking away from having to sit out the Rome derby against arch-footballing adversaries AS Roma, Sarri rolled the dice by bringing on talismanic midfielder Sergej Milinković-Savić. Incredibly, Salernitana turned the match on its head in the 68th minute when former Giallorossi player Federico Fazio slotted past Provedel. The away side then unbelievably added a third when Boulaye Dia arrived at the back post to convert Domagoj Bradarić’s enticing cross.
Victory registered Salernitana’s first-ever points at the Stadio Olimpico, as Lazio have to now regroup for a must-win midweek UEFA Europa League clash in Holland against Feyenoord, and then face Roma without Ciro Immobile due to injury, and Milinković-Savić, after the Serbian picked up a booking.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Antonio Candreva (U.S. Salernitana 1919)
