Serie A | Udinese 1-2 Lazio: Aquile flying up the table

Luca Pellegrini’s first Serie A goal and Matias Vecino allowed Lazio to get the better of Udinese and continue climbing the table.

The Aquile ended 2023 with back-to-back wins over Empoli and Frosinone, but were still missing Ciro Immobile and Luis Alberto, with Manuel Lazzari returning after a two-match ban. The Friulani left out Lazar Samardzic ahead of his likely transfer to Napoli, along with the usual massive injury list including Jaka Bijol, Enzo Ebosse, Jordan Zemura, Brenner, Simone Pafundi and Gerard Deulofeu. They concluded 2023 with a shock 3-0 win over Bologna, only their second victory of the whole season.

Gustav Isaksen had penalty appeals waved away when he seemed to run into Joao Ferreira, then was brought down on the edge of the box moments later by Thomas Kristensen. It proved decisive, as Luca Pellegrini steered that free kick around the wall into the far bottom corner with the inside of the left boot, making the most of the bad positioning. Incredibly, no Lazio defender had converted a direct free kick in Serie A since Massimo Oddo in November 2006, also against Udinese, while it was Pellegrini’s debut goal.

Expertly placed! 🎯

Luca Pellegrini gives Lazio a 1-0 lead with a brilliant free-kick! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/o493HMbpoT
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 7, 2024

Daichi Kamada aimed a free header well over, but Udinese equalised in odd circumstances, as the Sandi Lovric free kick went through a sea of legs and got the final flick from Walace to wrongfoot Ivan Provedel.

Isaac Success came on and drilled wide, but it was Lazio who restored their lead with a super-sub. Matias Vecino placed the angled drive under a defender’s legs into the far bottom corner after a long ball was knocked down by Felipe Anderson.

The Brazilian winger threatened to score one himself, blasting off target on the counter, while Rovella made a crucial block on Martin Payero’s free kick and another attempt was straight at Provedel.

Udinese 1-2 Lazio

Pellegrini 12 (L), Walace 58 (U), Vecino 76 (L)