The Stadio Olimpico was the scenario of a scoring festival on Sunday afternoon. The Biancocelesti grabbed a comfortable win over Monza to ensure a Champions League spot. Pedro, who was called up early to replace Boulaye Dia, made the most of his minutes on the pitch scoring an outstanding brace in the second half earning the MVP prize. A fantastic afternoon for both the team and the Spaniard.
As expected, the hosts completely dominated the first half, recording 15 shots with the visitors not having any. The Biancocelesti eventually scored just after the half-hour mark, as Adam Marusic was on target with his header to give his team a half-time lead.
The start of the second half followed the same pattern, as Pizzignacco produced a nice reflex save to deny Pedro, shortly before Gustav Isaksen flashed narrowly wide from close range.
Tomas Palacios did well to connect with a free-kick, yet could only head wide of the post. That would prove costly as Lazio quickly raced into a three-goal lead shortly after. Firstly, Pedro was fed by Castellanos before he beat a couple of defenders and slotted neatly into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later, the provider became the scorer as Castellanos produced a composed finish after he was found by Zaccagni in the box. The hosts added a fourth in the latter stages, as Pedro grabbed his brace with a first-time effort into the bottom corner after receiving Tijjani Noslin’s pass.
Lazio lost their chance of grabbing a clean sheet, as Monza won a penalty for handball. Stefano Sensi stepped up, and despite Ivan Provedel getting a hand to it, the ball reached the back of the net. Nonetheless, the visitors’ misery was compounded when Fisayo Dele-Bashiru made some space for himself in the box before firing into the roof of the net. It was a truly dominant performance from Lazio rewarded with a fourth spot in the Serie A table.
- Match stats:
Lazio: Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares (65' Lazzari); Guendouzi, Rovella; Isaksen (65' Dele-Bashiru), Dia (35' Pedro), Zaccagni (76' Tchaouna); Castellano (76' Noslins).
Monza (3-4-2-1); Pizzignacco; Izzo, Lekovic, Palacios; Pereira, Urbanski (60' Sensi), Bianco (79' Zeroli), Martinsn (32' Kyriakopoulos); Ciurria (60' Castrovilli), Mota (79' Vignato); Ganvoula.
Bookings: Gianluca Aureliano (sez. Bologna) booked Bocchetti (39 ') and Pedro Pereira (45').
Goals: Marusic (31'), Pedro (57', 77'), Castellanos (63'), rig. Sensi (85'), Dele-Bashiru (88').
2 - 1 
