Lazio seals the pass against a heroic Bruges

Suffering incredibly until the last second, Lazio achieved a goal expected for 20 years: reach the last 16 of the Champions League. The biancocelesti they managed to draw against a heroic Bruges, who despite having played with one less during the entire second half, was one step away from the feat.

That the afternoon was going to be entertaining was clear from the start of the game. The teams were risking their lives and immediately there was intensity, with two goals in the first quarter of an hour. The biancocelesti took the lead on 12 ': Luis Alberto entered the area and Mignolet neutralized his low shot, but Correa took advantage of the rebound by pushing the ball between sticks. Three minutes later something similar happened in the other area, with a stop by Reina after an attempt by Lang and Vormer ready to lay the tables.

The ups and downs continued: De Ketelaere again scared the Italians with a shot that brushed the post, but later Mata badly knocked Immobile down in the middle of the area. It was a penalty and the striker did it, becoming the third Italian player to score goals in all of his first four appearances in an edition of the Champions League, after Del Piero and Pippo Inzaghi. Before the break, SoboHe, who had already been booked in the second minute for grabbing Lazzari, again committed a foul on the winger, seeing his second yellow. The Belgians suffered from numerical inferiority only at the start of the second half, but as the minutes passed their desire to make history, which Clement described yesterday, became stronger than adversity.

In 76 ', Brujas drew with Vanaken, abandoned by biancoceleste behind after a Vormer cross from the right. The goal caused 15 infuriated minutes from the visitors, who were inches from a legendary goal. In discount, De Ketelaere executed a beautiful unstoppable volley for Reina, but the ball hit the inside of the crossbar and ended up outside the area. It was the last thrill of a ‘battle’ that, to increase the epic, was played under the insistent rain of Rome. At the final whistle, a soaked Simone Inzaghi celebrated with her players and on her face there was all the joy for the historic result, but also the shock that a great Bruges gave her. Clement's men will continue their adventure in the Europa League: if they play like today, they will give a lot to talk about.