A final like this has rarely been seen in the Champions League. Just as it is rare for a team to find an equalizer with their goalkeeper. Then in the 95th minute: in practice, the very last action. And instead that’s exactly what happened at the Olimpico: Lazio saved themselves in the fifth minute of injury time and found an unexpected 1-1 with Ivan Provedel, a professional goalkeeper who transformed for one night – and what a night – into the most ruthless of center forwards. The former La Spezia player throws himself into the opponent’s area in a convulsive finish: the classic move of desperation, perhaps without believing in it too much. Luis Alberto catches it perfectly, just as the header that beats goalkeeper Oblak is perfect. Incredible, unthinkable. Atleti had taken the lead in the first half with a less than irresistible shot from Barrios, deflected unstoppably by Kamada, and had legitimized the advantage with a post from Morata and a super chance for Samuel Lino (provedel, again, miraculous). In the middle, also a waste of Immobile in front of Oblak. Then, just before turning off the stadium lights, Provedel appears out of nowhere. For one night, a hero not only between the posts.
Full service coming soon…
Scoreboard
Lazio-Atletico Madrid 1-1 (first half 0-1)
Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Patric, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (38′ Lazzari); Kamada (62′ Guendouzi), Vecino (76′ Cataldi), Luis Alberto; Felipe Anderson (62′ Isaksen), Immobile, Zaccagni (76′ Pedro). All. Sarri
Atletico Madrid (3-5-2): Oblak; Savic, Witsel (75′ Correa), Hermoso; Molina, Marcos Llorente, Barrios (46′ Gimenez), Saul, Samuel Lino (79′ Riquelme); Morata, Griezmann. All. Simeone
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
Goal: 29′ Barrios (A), 95′ Provedel (L)
Warned: Griezmann, Samuel Lino, Patric, Immobile
Guardiola: “Champions with City special, we deserved it!”
