Lazio slipped down to third place in their Champions League group after a 3-1 defeat in Rotterdam to Feyenoord, as Santiago Gimenez bagged a brace.
These sides met last season in the Europa League, the Aquile winning 4-2 at home and losing 1-0 away to finish third in their group. This was a similar situation and Ciro Immobile returned to the starting XI after a muscular problem, while the hosts had Gernot Trauner and Yankuba Minteh carrying injuries. Santiago Gimenez was suspended for the first two matches, but returned here.
Lazio fans were banned from attending due to fears over crowd trouble, just as Feyenoord supporters will not be at the Stadio Olimpico.
Paixao fired at Ivan Provedel at the back post in the opening minutes, then Gimenez’s glancing header flashed wide on a Paixao cross from the left.
There was a huge risk on 25 minutes when Gimenez was sent through the middle and his finish was deflected off Elseid Hysaj to loop over Provedel. However, it was disallowed due to his offside position.
The hosts also had penalty appeals for handball, which VAR brushed away, but Feyenoord did take the lead when Nicolò Casale gave it away cheaply in midfield, allowing Mats Wieffer to find Gimenez for a finish into the far bottom corner.
Luis Alberto’s header was straight at the goalkeeper, but Feyenoord doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time. Stengs was allowed to pull back from the by-line and Zerrouki left totally unmarked on the edge of the area to pick his spot and rocket into the far corner.
Paixao should’ve made it 3-0 when springing the offside trap only to balloon well over, while Taty Castellanos did the same at the other end when Mattia Zaccagni’s angled drive was palmed into his path by Justin Bijlow.
Feyenoord made it 3-0 with a classic counter-attack, as though Provedel made a great save on Quinten Timber, he could do nothing on the Gimenez follow-up.
Lazio finally got on the scoresheet when Lopez bundled Castellanos over in the penalty area and Pedro converted low into the near bottom corner.
Zaccagni’s cross from the left was nodded over the bar by Castellanos to put some late pressure on the hosts.
In stoppages, Bijlow made a crucial save from point-blank range on Alessio Romagnoli, who was trying to tap in the Luis Alberto free kick.
Feyenoord 3-1 Lazio
Gimenez 31, 74 (F), Zerrouki 45 (F), Pedro pen 83 (L)
Player statistic
28' | Nicolò Rovella | |||
Bart Nieuwkoop | 31' | |||
Santiago Giménez (Assist: Mats Wieffer) |
31' | |||
Santiago Giménez | 44' | |||
Ramiz Zerrouki (Assist: Calvin Stengs) |
45+2' | |||
45+1' | Nicolò Casale |
Marcos López | 48' | |||
Quilindschy Hartman | 58' | |||
61' | Alessio Romagnoli | |||
65' | Matías Vecino | |||
Santiago Giménez | 74' | |||
83' | Pedro | |||
87' | Mattia Zaccagni | |||
Lutsharel Geertruida | 90+5' | |||
90' | Mattéo Guendouzi | |||
90+5' | Taty Castellanos |