European competition has always been a good place for Pedro Rodríguez to show his top quality, so in his second appearance of the season he once again blasted a superb performance: the Spaniard signed a goal and an assist in a valuable home win over Nice and showed again that he always has a lot to contribute to the Biancolesti mission.
His goal was the opener of a remarkable 4-1 victory, and the assist kick-started the second -Castellanos- setting up a perfect start to get the most from the European fixture. After the break, Castellanos and Zaccagni's penalty kick-spot secured all three points. After the game, Lazio lead the table with six points, seven goals scored and only one conceded.
The Aquile were hoping to build on their 3-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv, and did so early getting a deserved lead after Patric’s header on a Pedro corner was cleared off the line by Jonathan Clauss, but Pedro smashed the rebound into the far top corner. Locals doubled their advantage with a delightful lob from birthday boy Castellanos. He had been sent clear on goal by the Pedro through ball and a defensive error, dinking it over the on-rushing goalkeeper.
However, Nice got back into it before half-time when former Atalanta and Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga surged forward, completed a give and go with Youssoufa Moukoko inside the box and drilled into the far bottom corner.
After the restart, play was increasingly difficult as the heavy rain intensified. Pedro prodded straight at the goalkeeper after combining with Vecino, but Lazio added a third in style: Castellanos ran on to the Nicolò Rovella through ball, cut back to send the defender sliding and then fired the finish into the far top corner with a right footed shot. It was initially flagged offside, but VAR confirmed he was onside.
Soon after Lazio added a fourth to their tally: Bulka came sliding out on the very wet turf and just caught Castellanos on the way through from another Rovella pass. Contact was minimal, but enough, and Mattia Zaccagni converted the resulting penalty making it the final 4-1 for SS Lazio fans delight.
- Match stats:
LAZIO (4-2-3-1): Mandas; Marusic (78’ Lazzari), Gila (68’ Romagnoli), Patric, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Vecino (63’ Dia); Tchaouna (46’ Zaccagni), Dele-Bashiru (46’ Rovella), Pedro; Castellanos.
NIZA (3-4-2-1): Bulka; Ndayishimiye, Bombito, Dante; Clauss (67’ Abdi), Rosario (77’ Diop), Boudaoui (67’ Ndombelè), Louchet; Bounani (67’ Cho), Boga (67’ Guessand); Moukoko.
Bookings: Horatiu Fesnic (ROU) booked Louchet (20’), Bombito (51’), Zaccagni (59’), Bulka (66’) and Pellegrini (84’).
Goals: Pedro (20’), Castellanos (35’), Boga (41’), Castellanos (55’), Zaccagni (67’ p).
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