There were a lot of talking points from Lazio’s 3-2 win over Genoa in Friday night’s Serie A game at an almost empty Stadio Olimpico.
Lazio and Genoa were in Friday night Serie A action in the very definition of ‘a game of two halves’.
The first half at the Stadio Olimpico was a stalemate, with neither team able to open the scoring.
However, the second half saw five goals and three penalties, including the winner in the 10th minute of added time.
The result saw Lazio move up to eighth in the Serie A table on 32 points, while Genoa are 13th on 23 points.
There were plenty of talking points about the first game of matchweek 23.
Lazio 3-2 Genoa: Chaos in an empty stadium
Lazio v Genoa took place in a Stadio Olimpico that was almost empty.
Many Biancocelesti fans stayed home as they staged a protest about the club’s ownership.
Meanwhile, Genoa fans from Liguria, along with the ultras, were banned from the game.
LO STADIO OLIMPICO È DESERTO 😯
La protesta dei tifosi della Lazio ha funzionato e l’Olimpico si presenta praticamente semivuoto per la sfida di campionato contro il Genoa 🏟#Lazio #LazioGenoa #StadioOlimpico pic.twitter.com/jMGtGokew1
— Rompipallone.it (@Rompipallone_) January 30, 2026
They wouldn’t have missed much in the first half, but the second half was a completely different story.
A 56th-minute Pedro penalty and Kenneth Taylor’s first Lazio goal had the hosts 2-0 up by the 62nd minute.
However, Ruslan Malinowskyi’s 67th-minute penalty halved the deficit before Vitinha equalised on 75 minutes.
The game was heading towards a draw, but Leo Ostigard’s late handball saw Lazio receive a penalty after a VAR check.
A melee ensued before Danilo Cataldi stepped up and fired past Justin Bijlow to hand Lazio all three points.
Kenneth Taylor scores first Lazio goal in solid display
Kenneth Taylor has had a mixed start to Lazio life, but he’ll be happy with his display against Genoa.
The January signing – a replacement for Matteo Guendouzi – took his goal well and his overall performance was solid.
‘He continues, as in his first few matches, to show a strong desire to showcase his skills,’ wrote Calciomercato, who gave him a 7 out of 10.
“He arrives right on time to receive Isaksen’s assist for his first goal in Lazio.’
Meanwhile, Virgilio.it gave Taylor a 6.5 out of 10 for his efforts on the night.
‘He hasn’t yet got into Sarri’s footballing ideas and the goal he scored could give him the confidence he needs,’ they wrote.
23y259d – Youngest Dutch players to ever score a Serie A goal for Lazio:
Ricardo Kishna – 20 years and 230 days
Bobby Adekanye – 20 years and 353 days
Wesley Hoedt – 22 years and 168 days
Kenneth Taylor – 23 years and 259 days ⚽️Celestial. pic.twitter.com/66Aay8YKBG
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) January 30, 2026
Daniel Maldini struggles on Lazio debut
Friday night’s game also saw Daniel Maldini make his Lazio debut following his switch from Atalanta.
However, it wasn’t a great start to life in the Italian capital for the latest star of the Maldini dynasty.
Maurizio Sarri opted to play him at centre-forward, as opposed to his usual role on the flanks.
‘Centre-forward isn’t his role, and it shows,’ wrote RomaToday, who gave Maldini a 5.5 out of 10.
‘He doesn’t make an impact and actually wastes some good chances. He’s better when he plays further out wide.’
Goal also gave him a 5.5 out of 10 and noted that, while was ‘the most anticipated player of the evening’, he ‘didn’t live up to expectations’.
They said Maldini ‘looked intangible and, in the only real chance of the match, was slow to stop the ball in the box, losing the timing to make an impact.’
