Bari 2-0 Lazio: Galletti Tame Aquile With Convincing Win

Vitor Barreto - Bari-Lazio - Serie A (Getty Images)

Bari continued to pile misery on Lazio’s start to the Serie A season as they taught the visitors a harsh lesson in composure and organization.

The Galletti took an early lead when Paulo Barreto slotted home after breaking through an extremely high Lazio backline. Despite prolonged spells of possession, the Biancocelesti seemed to lack ideas as they struggled to find a way through the organized Bari defense.

The Biancorossi doubled their lead after the break when Riccardo Meggiorini finished off a wonderful attacking move which once again cut the visitors in two. As Lazio went for broke in the closing stages they began to lose their heads as they consigned themselves to their worst performance of the season.

Bari started brightly and immediately found space down the right as Lazio pushed too far forward off the ball.

The visitors looked to penetrate down the flanks, but Giampiero Ventura’s men were insistent on pressing the ball giving the Biancocelesti little time to find their feet in possession.

On ten minutes the Galletti were rewarded for their insistence to play high when Barreto was fed through on goal by a wonderful ball from Sergio Almiron. The Brazilian wasted nothing as he slotted the ball perfectly under the body of Fernando Muslera to gift the hosts an early lead.

The Biancocelesti looked frustrated as they pushed forward without a way through the extremely well organized Bari defense. Despite having five men in the midfield line, Ballardini’s men were unable to serve Zarate and Rocchi who looked ever more isolated up top.

The game became increasingly congested on the half hour mark as the side’s continued to cancel each other out in the middle of the park. Both goalkeepers were becoming passive spectators as the teams failed to carve out any valid openings in front of goal.

Lazio’s first real chance finally came ten minutes before the break. Zarate attempted a solo run in the Bari third, and the Argentine found space for a vicious shot just wide of the post.

After the re-start Ballardini threw on Julio Cruz and Pasquale Foggia as he looked to inject some life into the side that had rarely threatened in the opening 45 minutes.

On 48 minutes it was Bari who created the opening threat however when Alvarez stormed through the Lazio backline. The Honduran smashed a shot onto the outside of the woodwork and with Muslera beaten he was extremely unfortunate not to have doubled his sides lead.

The Biancocelesti midfield was starting to become overrun as the decision to play with four attackers started to upset the balance of the side. Ventura’s men looked dangerous on every attack as they ran freely at the Aquilotti’s isolated defense.

On 65 minutes the visitors almost leveled when a poor back pass left Gillet with it all to do. As Rocchi and Cruz closed him down just meters from the goal, the Bari captain kept ice cool as he turned to clear the danger under immense pressure.

Just three minutes later the Galletti doubled their lead when Meggiorini fired home after a wonderful one-two with Vitali Kutuzov. Lazio had been made to pay for their lack of cohesion and the San Nicola erupted as Ventura’s men took control of the game.

With just nine minutes left to play Lazio’s frustration got the better of them when Ousmane Dabo was shown a straight red for a violent tackle on Alvarez. The Frenchman’s desperation summed up his side’s afternoon as the Biancocelesti remained second best following a terrible day at the office.

Stefano Federici, Goal.com

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