Ascoli 1-2 Lazio: Zaccagni backheel and Ratkov winner seal comeback (full highlights)

On August 2, 2026, at the Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca in Ascoli Piceno, Lazio came from behind to defeat Ascoli 2-1 in a pre-season friendly. The match was played in front of a sell-out crowd of 11,014 spectators, with the atmosphere more akin to a competitive fixture than a summer warm-up. The first half saw Lazio dominate possession but fail to convert their chances, with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru squandering a one-on-one opportunity and Boulaye Dia twice shooting straight at the goalkeeper when well-placed. The game came to life after the break when Ascoli took a shock lead in the 61st minute, as Simone D'Uffizi's brilliant through ball released Amine Chakir, who finished coolly past Christos Mandas. Lazio responded swiftly, equalizing just five minutes later through a moment of pure invention — Mattia Zaccagni produced a sublime backheel finish from Dia's low cross to make it 1-1. The winner arrived in the 88th minute when Petar Ratkov, who had replaced Dia, latched onto a cross from the right and fired home with a clinical left-footed strike. Gennaro Gattuso made a wholesale change of his entire lineup in the 74th minute, introducing fresh legs that maintained the intensity. Lazio's fourth consecutive pre-season victory keeps their momentum building ahead of the new campaign, but Gattuso admitted the squad still needs a striker and a centre-back in the transfer market. Ascoli, meanwhile, face concern over defender Alagna, who was stretchered off with a knee injury. Can the Biancocelesti maintain this form, and will the Picchio recover from the loss of a key defensive figure?