16:18
59′ – First real chance for Empoli
Tense cross from Fazzini for Caputo’s head, good at anticipating the Biancoceleste defense: the ball is just high. Here is the first change for Sarri: Pedro for Zaccagni.
16:15
56′ – First substitutions for Empoli
Inside Bandinelli and Cambiaghi for Baldanzi and Grassi. These are Zanetti’s first moves for Empoli. Meanwhile, the Lazio players are warming up on the sidelines.
16:13
54′ – Doubling of Lazio with Zaccagni!
Excellent action by Felipe Anderson, ball in the middle that reaches Zaccagni: touch below and ball behind Vicario.
16:09
51′ – Building dangerous head
Luis Alberto corner for Immobile stationed at the far post, the bomber hits the header finding only the outside of the net. He asks in vain for a detour from the defender, but nothing to do.
16:05
47′ – Cataldi shot, it’s still a corner
Nice offensive action by Lazio with Zaccagni unloading for Cataldi: shot from outside and deflection for a corner.
16:04
46′ – The second half between Lazio and Empoli begins
The match starts again, first ball for Lazio. No changes for Sarri and Zanetti.
15:47
45′ – The first half ends
No recovery, the first half of Lazio-Empoli ends. At the moment the biancocelesti are ahead with Felipe Anderson’s winning header in the 2nd minute.
15:45
43′ – First yellow card of the match: it’s Lazzari
Hard intervention by Lazzari on Fazzini: slip punished with a yellow card, it’s the first card of the match. L‘ex Spal, warned, will miss the match with Sassuolo.
15:35
33′ – Immobile asks for a penalty
Immobile touches the ball with his leg before Ismajli’s header in the area. The Lazio striker goes down, but for the referee the foul is his. Doubtful situation…
15:32
30′ – Immobile tries, another detour
The left lane works with Felipe Anderson-Lazzari. Cross from the full-back for Immobile, who kicks immediately and finds a deflection for a corner. From a corner Milinkovic hits the head: high ball.
15:31
29′ – Empoli’s ball possession increases
Zanetti’s team has been gaining confidence for a few minutes. Lazio has lowered, ball possession in favor of the guests.
15:23
23′ – Shot by Marusic, there is Vicario
Pull of Marusic, after Zaccagni’s assist, which warms up the gloves of Vicario, well positioned. Central shot blocked in two stages without too much trouble by the Empoli goalkeeper.
15:23
21′ – Empoli ask for a penalty
Caputo on the ground in the area on a through ball, according to the referee there is no contact with Romagnoli. Pezzuto continues, everything in order.
15:21
19′ – What a chance for Zaccagni
Felipe Anderson makes Lazzari run in the right lane, cross and slight deflection with the ball ending up between Zaccagni’s feet: stop and shot, but ball out.
15:11
9′ – Immobile close to scoring
Felipe Anderson steals the ball in midfield, runs and unloads for Immobile in the area: the striker kicks hard from a tight angle, the ball just over the crossbar.
15:08
6′ – Great ball from Luis Alberto, Vicario comes out
Illuminating ball of Luis Alberto for the inclusion of Milinkovic: the Serbian does not arrive, anticipated by the outgoing Vicario.
15:04
2′ – Lazio goal from a corner!
Luis Alberto’s corner kick, Felipe Anderson’s header and perhaps decisive deflection by Caputo: it’s not an own goal, but a goal from the Brazilian and Lazio ahead. The biancocelesti start well.
15:03
1′ – An immediate opportunity for Lazio
The biancocelesti start strong. Milinkovic for Luis Alberto, who unloads for Cataldi: left foot deflected for a corner by the defense.
15:02
1′ – The match between Lazio and Empoli has begun
We leave after the minute of silence for Vialli and Mihajlovic. The meeting between Lazio and Empoli has begun at the Olimpico. First ball for the Tuscans.
14:45
The tribute for Sinisa Mihajlovic
Lazio fans recalled Sinisa Mihajlovic. Blow-up at the Olimpico with the banner that reads: “Sinisa now also breaks down the gates of paradise”. Exciting applause and lots of cheers for a white and blue flag that will never be forgotten.
14:30
Lazio-Empoli, the numbers of the match
Lazio and Empoli meet for the 25th time in Serie A: the balance is 14 victories for the biancocelesti, compared to the four obtained by the blues. Six draws complete the picture, including the one gained in the most recent match on 6 January 2021 (3-3). Only once have they closed two matches in a row in the tournament: between April and November 2006.
14:14
Lazio-Empoli, the official formations
LAZIO (4-3-3): provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Marusic; Milinkovic, Cataldi, Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Zaccagni. A disp.: Maximiano, Provedel, Patric, Vecino, Marcos Antonio, Pedro, Cancellieri, Romero, Hysaj, Radu, Bertini, Basic. All.: Maurice Sarri
EMPOLI (4-3-1-2): Vicar; Stojanovic, Ismaili, Luperto, Parisi; Grassi, Marin, Fazzini; Baldanzi; Caputo, Satriano. A disp.: Perisan, Ujkani, Cacace, Walukiewicz, De Winter, Henderson, Bajrami, Pjaca, Ekong, Degli Innocenti, Ebuehi, Bandinelli, Cambiaghi, Guarino. All.: Paolo Zanetti.
14:10
Lazio, Casale speaks in the pre-match
In the pre-game, Nicholas Casale spoke to the microphones of Lazio Style Channel: “There is a desire to reverse what happened in the last game. I don’t want to talk about redemption. We talked during the week. This season we have to work on continuity, in the same game we go from a great performance to moments of blackout. Empoli was important to me, I improved a lot there, Zanetti trained me at Sudtirol. It will be a difficult match. What do I ask for 2023? Obtaining important results with Lazio means remaining competitive throughout the season”.
14:00
Lazio, here is the first game of the year at home
Lazio restarts from the Olimpico. After the knockout in the first match of the year against Lecce in Via del Mare, a relaunch operation at home with Empoli. Curva Nord closed, but the other sectors are ready to encourage Sarri’s boys. Approximately 30,000 spectators are expected. After two defeats in a row, the Biancocelesti want victory at all costs to relaunch themselves in the standings.
