Lazio Thrash Avellino 6-3 in Nine-Goal Friendly Thriller at Formello
Lazio continued their perfect pre-season under Gennaro Gattuso with a thrilling 6-3 victory over Alessandro Nesta’s Avellino at the Centro Sportivo di Formello on Saturday morning. The match, which was the Biancocelesti’s third friendly of the summer, produced a nine-goal spectacle that delighted the home fans and showcased the attacking firepower at Gattuso’s disposal.
From the outset, Lazio dominated proceedings, with Petar Ratkov leading the line in the usual 4-2-3-1 formation. The Serbian striker was ably supported by Boulaye Dia, with Matteo Cancellieri and Federico Serra providing width on the flanks. It took just over half an hour for the hosts to break the deadlock, as Serra opened the scoring before Ratkov netted a quick-fire double to put Lazio firmly in control by the interval. The first-half display was a testament to the team’s sharpness and cohesion, with the attacking quartet causing constant problems for the Avellino defense.
After the break, the match opened up further, with both teams trading goals in an entertaining second half. Avellino, managed by Lazio legend Alessandro Nesta, showed character to pull goals back, but Lazio’s relentless pressing and clinical finishing proved too much. The final score of 6-3 reflected Lazio’s superiority, though Nesta’s side will take heart from their spirited performance against a top-flight opponent.
This victory follows earlier successes against the Primavera and Civita Castellana, extending Lazio’s winning streak in pre-season to three matches. With Gattuso’s tactical setup already looking well-drilled, the team appears in fine fettle ahead of the upcoming Serie A campaign. The fans will be encouraged by the fluid attacking play and the form of Ratkov, who has now scored multiple goals in consecutive friendlies. As the summer progresses, Lazio will look to build on this momentum, with the next test likely to provide a sterner examination of their title credentials.
Shimanta Das 
