Lazio 3-0 Mgarr United: Aquile Make Short Work of Maltese Visitors

Michel Sakr

The Laziali

Michel Sakr

The high-flying Lazio were determined to keep their engines warm during the international break, so they hosted second-division Maltese club Mgarr United FC in a friendly at their training centre in Formello.

Lazio Absentees

Gennaro Gattuso was without Christos Mandas, Gustav Isaksen, Oliver Provstgaard, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, and Reda Belahyane, who are currently with their respective national teams. Davide Frattesi and Adam Marusic were also called up for international duty, but they have since returned to Rome after picking up knocks.

The returning duo have thus joined Mattia Zaccagni, Nuno Tavares and Josip Sutalo on the treatment table.

Lazio Starting Lineup

Gattuso decided to test a 4-2-3-1 formation spearheaded by Andrea Pinamonti. The Italian striker was supported by the returning Albert Gudmundsson, who played as an attacking midfielder, plus Matteo Cancellieri and Adrian Przyborek on the wings. Nicolo Rovella also made his return to action, linking up with Danilo Cataldi in the double pivot.

Edoardo Motta replaced Mandas in goal, while the backline consisted of Manuel Lazzari, Danilho Doekhi, Diogo Leite, and Alfonso Pedraza.

Cancellieri & Leite Score in the First Half

The Biancocelesti dominated the pitch from the outset, but created limited chances in the first half hour. Pinamonti tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area, but Miguel Chetcutti easily claimed it. Leite then sent a header just over the crossbar from a corner kick. At the opposite end of the pitch, Mgarr tested Motta with a low drive, but the young goalkeeper was able to gather the ball.

After 30 minutes, Lazio finally broke the deadlock. Cataldi played a give-and-go with Pinamonti before picking up Cancellieri between two defenders with a clever vertical pass. The winger’s swift movement put him in front of goal, and he managed to beat the goalkeeper with a low shot to the near post.

Eight minutes later, the Aquile doubled their lead through Leite, who rose above his marker to direct home an exquisite corner kick from Gudmundsson.

Nicolo Rovella Added Lazio’s Third After the Break

Gattuso made three substitutions after the interval, replacing Leite, Pedraza, and Gudmundsson with Ricardo Bordon, Luca Pellegrini, and Federico Serra.

The one-way traffic continued throughout the second half, starting with the third goal courtesy of Rovella. Przyborek drove the ball from the byline before sending it to the edge of the box. Serra dummied it to Rovella, whose deflected shot was too difficult for the goalkeeper, who allowed it to slip through his fingers and into the net.

The two sides gradually changed personnel as the match progressed, which took its toll on the game’s rhythm. Gattuso had seemingly instructed his players to avoid dangerous challenges, as they can ill-afford additional injuries. So while the hosts could have added a few more goals, both teams appeared satisfied with the result.

Lazio will now shift their focus to next weekend’s Serie A action, as they prepare to host Lecce at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.