Competitive but slow match for 90 minutes, then two flashes in injury time: the first for Krstovic’s goal (a powerful right-footed shot into the top corner that was uncatchable for Di Gregorio), the second caused by Venuti’s handball which freed Pessina from the spot for the tie. The captain himself speaks to Dazn’s microphones in the post-match: «It’s a match that should have ended in a draw due to the way it happened. They found a great goal in injury time, but it would have been a false result. Luckily we found a penalty which I converted coolly, even though Falcone later revealed to me that he had tried to study me. She did well by surprising him.” The reference also goes to the penalty missed last year by Gytkjaer at the U-Power Stadium. «For our journey we wanted a different result, after the excellent performances with few points. But if you don’t win you must at least manage not to lose. It’s always an important point. We expected exactly this type of match, it is very difficult to get a result here, my teammates were very good and we are happy. The thought of Europe, even if we don’t say it, is there. But you have to win these games that make you make the leap. Let’s stay there, now we have some direct clashes and we will try to do our best in this final part of the season.”
The technician’s analysis
This is how Raffaele Palladino explains it: «We tried to shake things up in the second half, but what an effort. We expected a match like this, on a difficult pitch, against a healthy team. We responded with a team spirit. Although tactical, we could also have unlocked it. I liked that after the goal scored on a clearance, the boys didn’t give up and went on to get a draw which I think was fair». In the second half he tried with the inclusion of Maldini and Djuric: «With the five substitutions, the second half becomes another match. We could either win or lose. Lecce also did well. It’s never easy to come in well as a substitute, but whoever came in gave their all. I expected a different inertia, to try to overcome it. We weren’t able to take the lead and in these cases we even risk losing it.” Towards Lazio: Gagliardini will be disqualified, while for Izzo it could have just been a blow. «As mentioned, our goal at the start of the championship was to save ourselves and we are really proud of what we did. For us Europe is a dream. Now we have Lazio and we have to look at it game after game, we have 12 points available and we will try to play against everyone»
