Europa League | FC Twente 0-2 Lazio: Perfect start helped by early red card

Lazio continue their perfect start to the Europa League with a 2-0 victory away to FC Twente thanks to Pedro and Gustav Isaksen goals, but wasted so many chances against a side down to 10 men for 80 minutes.

Matteo Guendouzi and Manuel Lazzari were injured and Tijjani Noslin suspended, with Samuel Gigot finally getting his debut in defence. Twente held both Manchester United and Fenerbahce to 1-1 draws, but missed Michal Sadilek and Younes Taha.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

It was the ideal start for the visitors, because after just 11 minutes goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall came flying out and brought down Boulaye Dia, who had successfully sprung the offside trap. The referee had no choice but to show the red card and reduced Twente to 10 men.

Mattia Zaccagni’s cross-shot flashed just past both Pedro and the back post, while Dia didn’t get enough power on the volley straight at substitute goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton.

Adam Marusic almost scored by accident on 26 minutes, his cross flying past everyone to thump the base of the far upright.

epa11681063 FC Twente goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall receives the red card from referee Nikola Dabanovic during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between FC Twente and SS Lazio, in Enschede, the Netherlands, 24 October 2024. EPA-EFE/TOBIAS KLEUVER

Lazio took the lead when Matias Vecino sprung the offside trap and pulled back from the right for Pedro to sweep home undisturbed from 12 yards. It was initially disallowed by the assistant referee, but VAR confirmed that Bart Van Rooj was keeping Vecino level.

Tyton stood his ground to deny debutant Gigot’s attempted chip at the near post, then did the same using his chest to parry the Luca Pellegrini strike after a give and go with Zaccagni.

Marusic hit a scorcher from outside the box that Tyton beat away with some difficulty, but Luca Pellegrini should’ve scored straight after the restart when meeting the Vecino cross at the back post and sending his cushioned volley onto the woodwork from point-blank range.

Pellegrini fired another huge opportunity over from a promising position soon after, so 10-man Twente started to gain confidence and push for an equaliser.

Taty Castellanos came on and had the ball in the net, but only after play had already been stopped for a foul on Pedro.

The referee awarded a penalty to Lazio on 74 minutes, but changed his mind after the VAR review, as it wasn’t clear how much contact there was between Hilgers and Castellanos.

The Aquile continued to waste opportunities, Loum Tchaouna sweeping wide first-time, but they finally locked it down at the 87^th minute.

Van Rooij was again keeping everyone onside, this time Fisayo Dele-Bashiru down the right on Pedro’s pass, who rolled it across for the simply Isaksen tap-in.

There was an ugly incident moments later, as Tchaouna was visibly furious with some of the Twente players and as he was substituted to avoid further problems, he told the Lazio staff that they had made racist gestures.

This result means Lazio remain the absolute leaders of the Europa League table, as only Tottenham and RSC Anderlecht also have 9 points, but crucially they have a better goal difference.