Lazio booked their ticket to the quarterfinals of the Europa League in a more difficult match than expected against Viktoria Plzen. The Czechs surprised with a tidy game and a goal that put the Italian team on the ropes, but a header by Alessio Romagnoli ended up tipping the scales in favor of the home side. Despite the difficulties, Maurizio Sarri's team is still in the fight for the European title.
A difficult start for Lazio
The match started with an intense pace, with both teams trying to impose their style from the first minutes. Lazio, a priori favorites, encountered a well-placed Viktoria Plzen, who did not hesitate to look for the opponent's goal every time they had the chance. The Czechs sent a first warning with a powerful shot by Kalvach that demanded a great response from goalkeeper Provedel.
The Roman team could not find fluency in their play and, to make matters worse, suffered a big scare when Provedel made a mistake in the ball out. Vydra almost took advantage of the gift, but his shot ended up hitting the crossbar, preventing the visitors from taking the lead at that moment. Despite Lazio's territorial dominance, the clearest chances fell to Viktoria, who made it clear that they would not be easy opponents to beat.
On the other side of the pitch, Pedro and Nuno Tavares' attempts were the Italian side's most dangerous approaches, but a lack of precision in the final touch thwarted any attempt to open the scoring in the first half.
Sulç's goal complicates Lazio's task
The second half started with the same tone as the first: Lazio with possession, but without depth, and Viktoria Plzen waiting for their chance to strike. That chance came in the 52nd minute, when Sulç set up a one-two in the box with Durosinmi and unleashed a shot unreachable for Provedel. The 0-1 scoreline silenced the stadium and left the Romans in a difficult situation.
The goal woke up Lazio, who began to play with more urgency. The response was not long in coming and Sarri moved the bench in search of solutions. The introduction of Boulaye Dia gave a new dynamic to the attack, but the attempts still did not result in goals. Tension was mounting at the Olimpico as extra time loomed on the horizon if the home side failed to equalize.
As the half wore on, Lazio relied on set pieces as their best weapon to break the Czech resistance. Several set pieces generated danger, but Viktoria's defense was solid, clearing every attempt from the Italians.
Romagnoli To the Rescue in a Heart-Stopping Finale
Just when it looked like the match was heading for a tense conclusion, Alessio Romagnoli came on to save Lazio. In the 77th minute, the defender connected with a great header from a corner kick by Zaccagni. The ball crossed the goal line completely before the goalkeeper could react, unleashing euphoria in the stands.
The goal meant not only a draw in the match, but also qualification for the quarterfinals, as Lazio had the advantage on aggregate. With Viktoria forced to look for a desperate goal, the Italians knew how to manage the tempo and avoided any surprises in the final minutes.
The Czechs tried until the last moment, but the Roman defense stood firm and ensured the passage to the next round. Lazio, although with more suffering than expected, are still alive in the Europa League and are already thinking about their next opponent.
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Objective Accomplished, But With Room for Improvement
The win puts Lazio in the top eight of the tournament, but also highlights the need to improve their performance if they want to aspire to go further. The team struggled to generate danger and struggled against a team that, on paper, was inferior.
The final result was a relief for the Italians, who are now preparing for an even more demanding stage of the tournament. Sarri and his players know that they must raise their level if they want to fight for the title. For now, Lazio can celebrate their qualification, but with the certainty that the road to glory will be increasingly difficult.
