Lazio Roma – Fiorentina: Lazio Come From Behind And Keep Their Title Hopes Alive (2-1)
This was an interesting match for the neutral football fan, as they could observe how the 5-3-2 formation can be interpreted in two completely different ways, based on the coaches’ ideas and their player’s characteristics. Throw in a great individual moment from Franck Ribéry and this was a very worthwhile game to watch.
Tactical analysis and match report by Thanos Chelas.
Simone Inzaghi made three changes from his team’s starting formation in Bergamo, as Bastos, Marco Parolo and Felipe Caicedo came in for Ştefan Radu, Danilo Cataldi and Joaquín Correa respectively. Lazio played in their usual 5-3-2 formation, with a set of offensive wing-backs in Jony and Manuel Lazzari flanking a defense consisting of Bastos, Francesco Acerbi and Patric. Marco Parolo sat in front of the defense, with Sergej Milinković-Savić and Luis Alberto supporting him in more attacking roles. The striker duo consisted of Ciro Immobile and Felipe Caicedo.
Giuseppe Iachini, on the other side, organized his team in a 5-3-2 shape as well but with a different approach, in order to take advantage of his players’ characteristics - but also neutralize Lazio’s four or five player attacks in the penalty area and in the space behind their defensive line. In order to do that, his two wing-backs, Pol Lirola and Dalbert were staying closer to the three center-backs, Federico Ceccherini, Germán Pezzella and Nikola Milenković, who were also supported by Milan Badelj in a defensive midfielder role. Gaetano Castrovilli and Rachid Ghezzal played a few meters in front of the Croatian and behind the striker duo of Franck Ribéry and Patrick Cutrone.
Fiorentina’s buildup and Lazio’s sloppy start
The . . .
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