[Jager]

Champions League, Gp C Matchday 1 - 18/9/07 (19.45)
Olympiakos 1 - 1 Lazio
Galletti 55 (O), Zauri 77 (L)
Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium


Luciano Zauri's controversial goal secured a precious away point in Athens for Lazio, holding Olympiakos 1-1.

The Biancocelesti opened their Champions League campaign in the silence of Athens, as the game was played behind closed doors due to crowd trouble in last season's match with Shakhtar Donetsk. Lazio were dealing with an injury crisis, but welcomed Stefano Mauri back and gave a rare start to Under-21 international Lorenzo Di Silvestri.

The home side had the first chance after six minutes when Djordjevic met a Torossidis cross from the right, but turned it over the bar. Lazio were not shy at the start and Nikopolidis had to tip a Cristian Ledesma free kick out for a corner.

Goran Pandev wasted a promising move and Lomana LuaLua's swerving effort was comfortably gathered by Ballotta.

Macedonian Pandev made another costly error by hesitating on the counter-attack, then his weak finish failed to trouble Nikopolidis. He set up Mauri in the area, but the former Udinese Trequartista was closed down as he pulled the trigger.

On 36 minutes Ballotta showed age has not withered his instincts, as he performed a crucial reaction save on Galletti's right-foot screamer.

After the break Olympiakos were a little more ambitious and Ballotta did well to get a dangerous Antzas header under control.

The Greek side finally broke the deadlock on 55 minutes. Galletti ran on to a Djordjevic through ball, dribbled round the helpless Ballotta and deposited into an empty net.

This raised their confidence and LuaLua's effort was deflected out for a corner, while Torosidis couldn't get the final touch to a set-piece. Lazio were struggling at this juncture, so Massimo Mutarelli replaced the not 100 per cent fit Mauri.

Ballotta was under pressure and flapped away a Patsatzoglu cross-shot from the right, while Djordjevic fired over. Christian Manfredini's left-foot strike was off target and he made way for Simone Del Nero.

Ledesma's deadball situations were the Biancocelesti's best chances and Stoltidis prevented Guglielmo Stendardo from turning in a free kick.

Lazio eventually got their equaliser on 77 minutes in controversial circumstances. Full-back Luciano Zauri thumped a right-foot drive in at the near post, but there were suspicions of offside when he gathered Pandev's intelligent disguised pass.

Olympiakos introduced former Juventus man Darko Kovacevic and Pandev failed to truly trouble Nikopolidis.

Just four minutes from time Pandev had another excellent chance to give his side the lead, as he sprung the offside trap and unleashed a right-foot finish, but Nikopolidis stuck out a leg to maintain the 1-1 result.

They kept up the pressure and Tommaso Rocchi also tested Nikopolidis to turn out for a corner.

channel4.com - Football Italia