Serie A | Lazio 2-0 Torino: Lazio revitalised

Matias Vecino and Mattia Zaccagni goals gave Lazio a much-needed victory to push them up the table and take down Torino.

Maurizio Sarri was feeling the pressure after just one win and two draws in six games this season between Serie A and the Champions League. Some squad rotation was necessary, as Matias Vecino, Nicoló Casale, Manuel Lazzari and Nicoló Rovella stepped in. Toro had Samuele Ricci back from muscular issues and there was a new heavyweight attack, with Koffi Djidji and David Zima still out.

Nikola Vlasic’s scorcher brought an unorthodox save out of Ivan Provedel, with Duvan Zapata unable to keep the rebound on target. A Lazio corner came to Nicoló Casale, who could not keep his left-foot finish down.

There was bad news for Toro, who lost defender Alessandro Buongiorno to a muscular problem, making way for Saba Sazonov.

Luis Alberto got back for a crucial tackle on Duvan Zapata following Alessio Romagnoli’s error and celebrated as if he had scored a goal.

The Spanish midfielder was almost decisive at the other end too, his free kick to the back post about to be tapped in by Ciro Immobile when Valentin Lazaro made the interception.

Ricci, who nearly joined Lazio over the summer, curled an effort not far off target, but Lazio took the lead when Manuel Lazzari completed a give-and-go down the right with Felipe Anderson to put in the cross, Matias Vecino got in front of Raoul Bellanova for a cheeky volley from a tricky angle.

Lazaro saw his volley fly just over the bar from a Bellanova cross, but Lazio locked down the points when Felipe Anderson waited for the right moment to make the perfect through ball for Mattia Zaccagni, who beat Vanja Milinkovic-Savic one-on-one from a tight angle.

Taty Castellanos threatened a spectacular third with his overhead kick flashing just wide of the upright, while Torino saw a penalty first awarded and then revoked for Elseid Hysaj handball.

Lazio 2-0 Torino

Vecino 58 (L), Zaccagni 75 (L)