Torino secured a vital 2-0 home victory against Lazio in Serie A, with goals from Giovanni Simeone and Duván Zapata sealing a dominant performance.
Torino delivered a commanding performance to defeat Lazio 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino on March 1, 2026. Giovanni Simeone and Duván Zapata were the heroes, each finding the net for the Granata. Their clinical finishing proved the difference in a crucial Serie A encounter.
Coming into this fixture, Torino occupied 15th position in the league with 27 points, battling inconsistency. Lazio, sitting 10th with 34 points, aimed to reignite their push for European places. Both sides sought a decisive result to improve their respective Serie A campaigns.
The home side started brightly, pressing Lazio high up the pitch. Their early efforts paid off in the 21st minute when Giovanni Simeone broke the deadlock. He latched onto a pass, firing a clean strike past the goalkeeper to send the home fans into raptures.
Torino maintained their defensive shape effectively after the goal. They limited Lazio's attacking threat, forcing them into speculative efforts from distance. Lazio struggled to convert their slight possession advantage into meaningful chances.
Despite Lazio's attempts to find an equalizer, Torino's backline remained resolute. The half concluded with a yellow card for Torino's Gvidas Gineitis in the 45+1 minute. The referee blew for halftime shortly after, with Torino holding a deserved 1-0 lead.
At the interval, Lazio coach Igor Tudor faced a challenge. His side needed a significant tactical adjustment to overcome Torino's solid organization. More attacking impetus and creativity were essential for a potential comeback.
Lazio made early changes to kick off the second half, introducing P. Ratkov and R. Belahyane in the 46th minute. These substitutions aimed to inject fresh energy and dynamism into their midfield and attack. However, the impact was not immediate.
Torino quickly doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute. Duván Zapata was the man on target, skillfully guiding the ball home from a Rafael Obrador assist. This goal provided Torino with a comfortable two-goal cushion, silencing the traveling Lazio support.
The two-goal lead allowed Torino to manage the game effectively. They made strategic substitutions, while Lazio continued their fruitless attempts to find a way back. As the match concluded, several yellow cards were shown, including to Nikola Vlašić, A. Tameze, S. Kulenovic for Torino, and N. Tavares for Lazio, reflecting a physical end.
Torino demonstrated efficiency, scoring two goals from 5 shots on target out of 13 total shots, despite an xG of just 0.69. Lazio, with 56% possession and an xG of 0.94, managed 12 shots but only 3 on target, underscoring their wasteful finishing. Torino's goalkeeper, Alberto Paleari, made 2 crucial saves.
