Lazio returned to winning ways dominantly with a 3-0 victory and clean sheet back on track with a dominant performance at the Bentegodi against Hellas Verona as the Presidio era at Verona got off to a rough start.
The Aquile began the year 2025 with a defeat, losing the Derby della Capitale to rivals Roma and then being held 1-1 by Atalanta and Como.
Hellas announced a new owner this week. American investors Presidio took over, and the full board was in the stands.
Within 90 seconds, Lazio broke the deadlock in a match in which they quickly asserted their dominance over their hosts.
On-loan defender Nuno Tavares robbed Suat Serdar to force a corner, which Mattia Zaccagni floated onto the head of Samuel Gigot, who scored the opener.
They had a chance to restore parity, but a few minutes later, Ivan Provedel rushed out and made himself big to parry the attempted Casper Tengstedt dinked finish.
Lazio then made it two through Boulaye Dia, who a smart Matteo Guendouzi sent through a pass from deep inside his half. The striker took on three Verona defenders, who backed away as he bent the left-foot finish into the far bottom corner.
Taty Castellanos’ shot went wide while Gustav Isaksen tested Lorenzo Montipò at the near post.
After Ondrej Duda blasted his shot past the upright from a distance, Verona had another chance to score, but Suat Serdar’s header looped up to thump the top of the crossbar with Provedel stranded.
As the hosts continued their search for at least a goal that would give them a lifeline, Lazio punished them further over a suicidal defending. Tchatchoua failed to realize Dia was right behind him on a pass back to the goalkeeper, giving the striker a chance to lay it off for the Zaccagni goal altruistically. As a form of respect to the fans, the former Verona player waved an apology to the home fans.
Lazio had a chance to make it four moments later, but Castellanos failed to get the final touch from Tavares’ pass across the six-yard box.
Provedel ensured he left with a clean sheet when he parried Domagoj Bradaric’s angled
Ondrej Duda got the matching order after receiving his second yellow card late on as his foot squirmed over the ball to catch Luca Pellegrini.
