Lazio level with Premier League newcomers Southampton in pre-season friendly | OneFootball

Lazio picked up an entertaining 1-1 draw against Premier League outfit Southampton on Wednesday evening, thanks to a stunning Taty Castellanos equaliser, which cancelled out Ben Brereton Diaz’s early opener.

Marco Baroni named a strong Biancocelesti XI, arguably his strongest available. Castellanos led the line with Mattia Zaccagni and Gustav Isaksen on the flanks, and a midfield three of Matteo Guendouzi, Matias Vecino and Danilo Cataldi behind them.

Recent Southampton signing and Chile international Brereton Diaz opened the scoring with just five minutes on the clock, cutting in off the left flank and bending a decent effort into the far corner from the edge of the area.

Lazio were back level half an hour later in impressive fashion. Castellanos caught hold of the ball with his back to goal, juggled the ball twice before sending an acrobatic effort past former England international Alex McCarthy in the Southampton net.

Baroni took an opportunity to introduce several substitutions at various stages of the second half, including Pedro, Loum Tchouana, Mario Gila, Adam Marusic and former Fiorentina midfielder Gaetano Castrovili.

Lazio have one more pre-season friendly remaining of their summer schedule, away against Cadiz on Saturday, before welcoming Venezia to the Stadio Olimpico for the start of the Serie A season on August 18.

Full-time: Southampton 1-1 Lazio

Brereton Diaz (S) 5’, Castellanos (L) 34’.

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Lazzari, Casale, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Guendouzi, Vecino, Cataldi; Isaksen, Castellanos, Zaccagni.

Southampton (4-3-3): McCarthy; Bree, Edwards, Wood, Manning; Taylor, Charles, Alcaraz; Amo-Ameyaw, Mara, Brereton Diaz.