Serie A | Verona 0-1 Lazio: Aquile ride luck on debut of new buys

Lazio rode their luck with the deflected Manuel Lazzari cross and a late Verona penalty appeal, winning on the debut of new buys Kenneth Taylor and Petar Ratkov.

The Aquile were coming off a dramatic 2-2 midweek draw with Fiorentina, sealed by a last-gasp Pedro penalty. Tijjani Noslin and Adam Marusic returned from suspension, but Mattia Zaccagni was banned instead, with Patric and Toma Basic injured, Boulaye Dia and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru at AFCON. New buy Kenneth Taylor went straight into the starting XI, with Petar Ratkov on the bench, as Matteo Guendouzi was sold to Fenerbahce. Fresh from a 2-2 draw at Napoli, Hellas missed Tomas Suslov, Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and Rafik Belghali.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog

Lazio had a big double chance after just four minutes, as first Nicolas Valentini got back to throw himself in the way of Gustav Isaksen’s angled drive, then Cheikh Niasse prevented Noslin nodding in the rebound.

Ivan Provedel flew to palm away the Domagoj Bradaric curler after good work from Giovane to squirm away from two defenders down the right.

Alessio Romagnoli couldn’t keep his header down on a free kick routine, while Martin Frese’s cross-shot was parried at the base of the near post by Provedel.

Verona had a big double chance when Frese rolled across from the left, but Provedel fingertipped it away from Giovane sliding in, then desperate Luca Pellegrini defending prevented Bradaric getting on the rebound at the back post.

Petar Ratkov made his debut for the Biancocelesti too, while Matteo Cancellieri fired over the bar and Isaksen’s effort was charged down on a Taylor roll across from the left.

There was a special moment for the Aquile with the return of Nicolò Rovella for his first appearance since September 2025.

Adam Marusic’s powerful free kick stung Lorenzo Montipò’s gloves, but Armel Bella-Kotchap went on the counter from his own half to blast over the bar and suffered cramp in the process.

Antoine Bernede only hit the side-netting after an Amin Sarr run, but the deadlock was broken with a little bit of luck from Maurizio Sarri’s men.

They won it back in midfield and Cancellieri threaded through for Manuel Lazzari down the right, his low cross took a big deflection off Victor Nelsson to loop up over a helpless Montipò.

The Verona goalkeeper got down to palm away a Pedro curler, but there was chaos on a long throw-in and Valentini flicked the ball up before Provedel crashed into him. VAR evaluated and decided not to call the referee to view it for a potential penalty, leaving Paolo Zanetti incredulous.