Gustav Isaksen Fires Pragmatic Lazio Past Wounded Atalanta | OneFootball

Lazio rebooted their Top Four hopes by earning a hard-fought victory over Atalanta in what was a relatively uneventful affair.

Lazio Starting Lineup

Marco Baroni had to do without several key players, as Taty Castellanos is working on regaining his best condition, while Matteo Guendouzi was serving a one-match ban. Moreover, Alessio Romagnoli was left in Rome due to a bout of flu.

Therefore, Boulaye Dia spearheaded the charge, supported by Loum Tchaouna, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Mattia Zaccagni. In midfield, Reda Belahyane made his full debut for the club, starting alongside Nicolo Rovella.

Nuno Tavares Suffers New Injury in Hollow First Half

In what was an utterly forgettable first half, the two goalkeepers, Marco Carnesecchi and Christos Mandas, didn’t have a save to make between them. The most significant event from the first 45 minutes was arguably Nuno Tavares’ exit after sustaining what feels like his umpteenth muscle injury of the season. Luca Pellegrini came in as a replacement.

Second-Half Improvement

The second period started with a bit more promise, as Dele-Bashiru tested Carnesechi with a long-range effort, while Mandas denied Mateo Retegui. After trading jabs, Lazio made Atalanta pay for leaving acres of space at the back.

Gustav Isaksen Scores the Winner Off the Bench

Mandas launched a ball towards the opposite half of the pitch, and Dele-Bashiru managed to outpace and outmuscle Isak Hien and Marten de Roon, leaving the duo in his wake. The Nigerian set up Gustav Isaksen with a header. With only Carneshecchi to beat, the substitute’s shot wasn’t the cleanest, but it still went past the desperate Italian goalkeeper.

Shy Attempts from Atalanta

The home side tried to salvage a draw with a late onslaught, but Daniel Maldini’s shot was expertly blocked by Oliver Provstgaard who made his debut off the bench, while Marco Brescianini’s header whistled past the post.

Timely Victory for Lazio

In the end, Baroni’s uncharacteristically cautious approach paid dividends, earning the Aquile a vital win in Bergame, thus restoring the club’s hopes of securing Champions League football by finishing in the Top Four. The Biancocelesti will now prepare their upcoming Europa League contest against Bodo/Glimt with cooler heads.

Atalanta 0-1 Lazio

Goal : 54′ Isaksen (L)

Atalanta (3-4-3):  Carnesecchi; Djimsiti, Hien, Kolasinac; Bellanova, Ederson (78′ Brescianini), De Roon, Zappacosta; Cuadrado (58′ De Ketelaere), Retegui (75′ Maldini), Lookman (75′ Samardzic).

Lazio (4-2-3-1):  Mandas; Lazzari, Gigot (69′ Provstgaard), Gila, Nuno Tavares (34′ Pellegrini); Belahyane, Rovella; Tchaouna (from 46′ Isaksen), Dele-Bashiru, Zaccagni (69′ Noslin); Dia.

Yellow cards : 40′ Rovella (L), 88′ Lazzari (L).

Referee: Chiffi