The biancocelesti without conceding a goal in 16 league games: in the five major European leagues only the blaugrana have done better, at 19. And Sarri can also boast the best Italian scorers in Serie A
Top numbers push Lazio’s flight towards the Champions League. The success in the derby led Sarri’s team to second place in the standings: a curious coincidence with the twenty-seventh day of the 2019-20 championship. At the end of that season, Simone Inzaghi’s team qualified for the Champions League, the last time for the Biancocelesti in the top European competition. The victory against Roma, coinciding with the defeats of the Milanese side, also gave further strength to the ranking position: two points ahead of third-placed Inter, four over fourth-placed Milan. And Mourinho’s five points over the Giallorossi are also enriched by the advantage in direct matches. Lazio hadn’t won two derbies in the same league since the 2011-12 season (with Reja on the bench: 2-1 in both matches).
BOMBER JACKETS AND VICTORIES
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Maurizio Sarri can also display the first two Italian names in the Serie A scorers chart. With the goal in the derby, Mattia Zaccagni moved up to 9, alongside Ciro Immobile, who, despite the injury (injury to the flexor of his left thigh , brought back after the match in Naples two weeks ago: he will return to Monza when the championship resumes), went on the bench: as captain, to encourage his teammates. Against Roma, the Biancocelesti collected their fourth victory in five days: including that of Naples. After the home knockout with Napoli, the restart with 13 points out of 15 won (the draw in Bologna). The triumph in the derby immediately canceled the disappointment for elimination in the second round of the Conference which arrived on Thursday in the Netherlands against Az Alkmaar. A flop that has been added to the others this season in the cups between the Europa League and the Italian Cup.
YES RECORD
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The extra strength of Sarri’s team is in defense. Just 19 goals conceded: only Napoli is better (16). In the derby, the Biancocelesti kept a clean sheet for the sixteenth time this championship: like Juventus. In the five major European tournaments, only Barcelona have done more: 19 games without conceding goals. Meanwhile, Sarri’s team has equaled the highest number of clean sheets obtained by the Biancocelesti at this point in an A championship (16 after 27 in matches in 1972-73). Ivan Provedel, recovered at the last minute after the fever on the eve of the derby, hasn’t conceded a goal for 475 minutes. In this championship he had already reached 620′, positioning himself in third place in the relative classification, behind Luca Marchegiani (745′) and Nando Orsi (724′). And with 16 clean sheets, on a personal level, he supported Idilio Cei (1963-64) and Felice Pulici (1972-73 and 1973-74). Only Silvano Martina (20, but in Serie B) is better. Provedel kept the goal undefeated in two consecutive Serie A derbies: it hasn’t happened since 2006-07, with Angelo Peruzzi between the posts.
20 March – 14:34
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