Serie A | Monza 0-1 Lazio: Sensational Aquile zoom with Zaccagni

Mattia Zaccagni curled in a quality finish to give Lazio the victory away to Monza, continuing their extraordinary run of form in Italy and Europe.

The Aquile were brimming with confidence after winning nine of their last 10 games, sitting top of the Europa League table with Thursday’s last-gasp victory over FC Porto. Gaetano Castrovilli was the only absentee, as Nuno Tavares returned from suspension. Monza missed Stefano Sensi, Alessio Cragno and Roberto Gagliardini, but it was a special game for coach and former Lazio legend Alessandro Nesta.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Dany Mota Carvalho pounced on a Mario Gila error in the opening three minutes only to balloon over the bar, as did Daniel Maldini on the Dany Mota pull-back from the right.

Lazio also threatened when Boulaye Dia intercepted a wayward Pedro Pereira back-pass and forced a tricky one-handed save at the near post, while the Nuno Tavares cross-shot was fingertipped over the bar.

epa11713505 SS Lazio's Nicolo Rovella in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and SS Lazio, in Monza, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO BREGANI — epa11713505 SS Lazio’s Nicolo Rovella in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match between AC Monza and SS Lazio, in Monza, Italy, 10 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ROBERTO BREGANI

Mattia Zaccagni’s right-foot curler from the edge of the area on a Nuno Tavares assist bounced off the base of the far post on 33 minutes, but it was only a practice run for the goal moments later.

Pedro won it back from Daniel Maldini in midfield and Matteo Guendouzi laid it off for Zaccagni’s right-foot finish bent from the same spot into the far bottom corner.

Monza fought back, the acrobatic Dany Mota bicycle kick over the bar, while Nicolò Rovella’s powerful half-volley from the edge of the area on a Lazio corner stung Stefano Turati’s gloves.

The Boulaye Dia diving header was just too short to get on the end of a Nuno Tavares cross, but Monza started to pour forward in the second half with desperate defending blocking off Dany Mota and an Armando Izzo header smothered by Ivan Provedel.

Daniel Maldini also ballooned over from 14 yards on the Dany Mota pull-back, but Monza’s pressure failed to truly trouble Ivan Provedel, the last-gasp Gianluca Caprari free kick into the wall.