Matchday 8 of the 2023-2024 Serie A TIM saw the hosts win 3-2 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome after the Nerazzurri had managed to get a couple of goals back and threatened the equaliser in the final minutes of the match.
The game took a wrong turn from the get-go, as the hosts took an early lead inside 5 minutes when Luis Alberto’s corner ricocheted off De Ketelaere for an unfortunate own goal. Six minutes later, Castellanos then doubled the opposition’s lead assisted by Felipe Anderson. While Musso denied Casale from close range on 14 minutes, Guedonzi’s long-range effort bounced off the crossbar. The Nerazzurri’s reply arrived in the 25th minute when Ruggeri whipped in a cross from the left and Pašalić’s header into the ground bounced off target. However, the goal was only pushed back, as Ruggeri’s lovely cross found Éderson’s free header on 33 minutes to make it 2-1.
A De Ketelaere chance inside the first four minutes of the restart forced a save out of Provedel after the Belgian forward turned two defenders from point-blank range. Atalanta completed the comeback in the 63rd minute from a corner: Ruggeri took the corner short for a Koopmeiners cross that unmarked Kolašinac nodded in. However, an 80th-minute Isaksen free kick went just over before Lazio restored their lead three minutes later through Vecino, whose half-volley went past Musso. Gasperini’s men tried hard until the very end to level the score and in the 90th minute Lookman set up Muriel, who steered the ball into the net, but Provedel smothered the effort at the second attempt. That being the final chance of the match, Atalanta did not manage to leave the Olympic Stadium undefeated.
LAZIO 3-2 ATALANTA
Scorers: De Ketelaere own goal 5 (A), Castellanos 11 (L), Éderson 33 (A), Kolašinać 63 (A), Vecino 83 (L).
Lazio: Provedel, Marusic, Casale, Romagnoli, Hysaj, Guendouzi, Rovella (Cataldi 77), Luis Alberto (Vecino 55), Felipe Anderson (Isaksen 77), Castellanos, Zaccagni (Pedro 55).
Unused subs: Sepe, Mandas, Pellegrini, Patric, Kamada, Isaksen, Basic, Lazzari, Cataldi, Gila.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri.
Atalanta: Musso, Scalvini, Djimsiti, Kolašinac, Zappacosta (Holm 81), de Roon, Éderson, Ruggeri (Bakker 81), De Ketelaere (Muriel 70), Pašalić (Koopmeiners 46), Scamacca (Lookman 60).
Unused subs: Carnesecchi, Rossi, Palomino, Zortea, Adopo, Hateboer, Miranchuk.
Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini.
Referee: Daniele Orsato from Schio; assistant referees: Marco Scatragli from Arezzo and Andrea Zingarelli from Siena; the fourth official: Paride Tremolada from Monza; V.A.R. Antonio Di Martino from Treamo, A.V.A.R. Rosario Abisso from Palermo.
Notes: Sarri (L) sent off on 85 minutes; Ruggeri (A) and Vecino (L) booked.
