Lazio won a vital victory at the Stadio Unipol Domus by defeating Cagliari 2-1 in a match in which they were able to impose their hierarchy in key moments. With goals from Mattia Zaccagni and Valentin "Taty" Castellanos, the team coached by Marco Baroni put behind them their last defeat against Fiorentina and regained ground in Serie A, overtaking Juventus in the table and strengthening their aspirations to qualify for the next Champions League.
The match was a hard-fought affair from start to finish, with Lazio dominating most of the game, but with Cagliari showing character and putting the visitors in trouble. However, the attacking quality of the Romans ended up making the difference in a match that left emotions until the last minute.
A controlled start for Lazio
From the start, the visiting team showed its intention to control the pace of the match. Lazio took control of the ball with a solid midfield, led by Luis Alberto and Felipe Anderson, who were in charge of generating play and connecting with the forwards. The high pressing worked and Baroni's men began to create danger in the opponent's area.
The goal was not long in coming. In the 20th minute, Mattia Zaccagni took advantage of a good through ball and, with a great finish, put the "biancocelesti" ahead. With this goal, Lazio reaffirmed its dominance and seemed to be on track, keeping possession and controlling Cagliari's offensive attempts.
For their part, the home team tried to react, but struggled to generate clear chances. Despite some isolated chances, Lazio's defense stood firm and prevented their opponents from finding space to do any damage.
Cagliari Reacts, But Castellanos Decides The Match
The second half started with a change in Cagliari's attitude. Just five minutes after the restart, the home side equalized thanks to a goal by Roberto Piccoli in the 55th minute. The striker took advantage of a defensive lapse by Lazio and made no mistake in front of goalkeeper Ivan Provedel.
This goal boosted Cagliari, who began to press with greater intensity and generated several dangerous approaches. The home team was hoping for a surprise and a valuable point in their fight for relegation.
However, Lazio's response came quickly. In the 64th minute, Taty Castellanos appeared to score the goal that sealed the match. The Argentine striker, who has been a key player in the Roman team's offense, took advantage of a loose ball in the area to score with power and give his team the lead back. With this goal, Castellanos scored his eighth goal of the season and reaffirmed his importance in the squad.
Do you enter this parlay in the #CoppaItalia? 🇮🇹#Atalanta and #ACMilan are defending their home games in intense matches. Do you think they will score and win?
Predict now! ➡ https://t.co/HCS0draMpV pic.twitter.com/HMUQ58jmOQ
- Betcris (@Betcris) February 4, 2025
An Intense Closing And Three Fundamental Points
In the final minutes, Cagliari tried to react and look for an equalizer, but Lazio was able to close the game with intelligence. The visiting defense was solid, clearing every attempt from the home team, while goalkeeper Provedel had key interventions to hold the advantage.
With this victory, Lazio reached 42 points in Serie A and remains in the fight for the Champions League places, overtaking Juventus in the table and getting closer to Atalanta, which occupies the third position. In contrast, Cagliari remains at the bottom of the table and will need to pick up points in the next few rounds to move away from the relegation zone.
Marco Baroni's team is smiling again and reaffirms its good moment, while Taty Castellanos continues to prove his worth with decisive goals. Lazio, with this result, keeps alive its goal of qualifying for the next Champions League and is emerging as one of the most solid teams in the upper part of the Italian championship.
