Lazio had taken the lead through Joaquin Correa, but Eintracht Frankfurt fought back for a 2-1 victory and end the group with a 100 per cent record.

Lazio had taken the lead through Joaquin Correa, but Eintracht Frankfurt fought back for a 2-1 victory and end the group with a 100 per cent record.

The Aquile already knew they’d come in second behind Eintracht Frankfurt, so both sides could play without pressure in this final group game, as well as rotate the squad. Ciro Immobile, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Milan Badelj and Adam Marusic weren’t even in the squad, so Luis Alberto supports Joaquin Correa in a more advanced role. Midfielder Filip Kostic was suspended with Goncalo Paciencia, captain David Abraham and Jonathan De Guzman not making the journey. Carlos Salcedo and Timothy Chandler weren’t on the UEFA list.

There were more Eintracht fans in the Olimpico than Laziali, although there was also trouble before the game with five German supporters arrested for clashes with police.

Riza Durmisi ran on to a Joaquin Correa through ball and was almost tripped in the box by Danny Da Costa, who pulled out of the tackle at the last second.

Eintracht dominated possession and Nicolai Muller’s deflected effort sailed past everyone, but Luis Alberto had a good chance from the edge of the box only to fire it straight at Frederik Ronnow.

Makoto Hasebe pulled up with a hamstring problem and Correa stopped the promising Lazio move to ensure his opponent could receive treatment.

Durmisi won back possession to drill just wide and the goalkeeper fingertipped a long Danilo Cataldi free kick off the head of Francesco Acerbi at the back post.

Da Costa flashed a cross-shot all the way along the face of goal, but it dribbled out at the far post with nobody making contact.

Danilo Cataldi drilled wide of the near post and Lazio took the lead when Correa sprung the offside trap on a Luis Alberto through ball and kept his cool to place it into the far bottom corner with a precise angled drive.

Eintracht fans had already been causing problems in the city and throwing fireworks, but at the goal they also staged a pitch invasion with several supporters and police had to intervene.

The Germans were dangerous on the counter, Mijat Gacinovic’s roll across for Haller crucially intercepted by Luiz Felipe. The defender was again decisive with a last-gasp sliding block to deflect Sebastien Haller’s strike over the bar.

There was little anyone could do about Gacinovic’s equaliser, as he smashed an absolute screamer into the far top corner from outside the box. It was simply unstoppable.

Luis Alberto had his lob in the back of the net only after a very tight offside call, then Ronnow came flying off his line to get just enough on to Durmisi’s finish in a one-on-one situation.

Instead, Eintracht turned the game around with another top quality goal. Haller started his move in an offside position, but the no-look pass from Gacinovic to split the defence was inspired.

Luis Alberto’s free kick was powerful, but too close to the goalkeeper.

Lazio 1-2 Eintracht Frankfurt

Correa 56 (L), Gacinovic 66 (E), Haller 71 (E)

Lazio: Proto; Bastos, Luiz Felipe, Acerbi; Caceres (Rossi 75), Murgia, Cataldi, Berisha (Lulic 56), Durmisi; Luis Alberto, Correa

Eintracht Frankfurt: Ronnow; Da Costa, Russ, Falette, Willems; Muller (Jovic 79), Fernandes, Hasebe (N’Dicka 32), Tawatha; Gacinovic (Stendera 88); Haller

Ref: Umut Meler (TUR)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tickets Kit Collector