On January 11th in the early hours of Beijing time, the first match of the 20th round of Serie A took place, with Lazio hosting newly promoted Como. The result was another major upset as Lazio drew 1-1 with their opponents, marking three consecutive winless rounds for the dark horse of Serie A, who are gradually revealing their true colors.
In this game, Lazio were determined to secure a victory. Facing a Como team led by Xhaka, if they dropped points again, they would struggle to maintain their top-four position. The game initially progressed as Lazio had anticipated.
In the 37th minute of the first half, Díaz received the ball in the penalty area, executed a smooth turn, and ultimately pushed the ball into the far corner of the net. He almost single-handedly tore through the opponent's defense, helping Lazio break the deadlock.
Leading 1-0, Lazio continued to control the game. However, an unexpected incident occurred in the second half, causing them to lose their composure. In the 58th minute, Chawunah received a second yellow card for fouling an opponent in midfield, leaving Lazio with one less player on the field.
After playing with 11 against 10, Como's morale soared, and they launched a fierce counterattack. They eventually capitalized on a counterattack opportunity, with Cutrone heading the ball into the net at the back post, leveling the score at 1-1. Como also squandered several chances that could have sealed the victory over Lazio.
Following this 1-1 draw, Lazio has now gone three league rounds without a win, managing only two points against Atalanta, Roma, and Como. After the first 17 rounds, Lazio was only six points behind the top, but now they trail Napoli by eight points after playing one more game. This means that after this round, they could be left 11 points behind, effectively exiting the title race.
Prior to this, Lazio was considered one of the big dark horses, having once seen hope for the championship. However, it now appears that Lazio is beginning to show its true form. They may not only miss out on the title but also risk losing their top-four position. Currently, Lazio has played two more games than fifth-placed Juventus but leads by only four points. If Juventus wins both of their remaining matches, they will overtake Lazio and push them out of the top four.
This season, the title race and the battle for the top four in Serie A are both intense. The top three teams' advantage is difficult to shake, and unless something unexpected happens, the championship will likely be decided among Atalanta, Napoli, and Inter Milan. As for the fight for fourth place, Juventus, due to too many draws, had already fallen behind, but Lazio's own missteps gave Juventus an opportunity. Additionally, Fiorentina also has a chance, along with Bologna and AC Milan, who have regained their form, all possessing the potential for a comeback. Especially AC Milan, under the leadership of Conceição, who just won the Italian Super Cup upon taking office, quickly lifted the team out of their slump. Upon returning to Serie A, they will make a full effort to challenge for the top four. Currently, Juventus and AC Milan are the most hopeful contenders for the fourth spot, and it remains to be seen which of these two giants will become the final lucky one!