Alberto Gilardino saw a positive performance from Pisa to hold Lazio in a goalless draw, representing ‘another brick in the wall for our self-confidence.’
The Tuscans have tended to step up against the bigger teams, as at the weekend they were on the verge of a victory away to Milan until the last-gasp equaliser.
Tonight they had the better of the second half in a 0-0 draw with Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio, but are still looking for their first Serie A win of the season.
Gilardino sees Pisa progress
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Alberto Gilardino manager of Pisa Sporting Club reacts during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“I have to congratulate the lads, for their organisation, balance, and desire to take the initiative,” Gilardino told DAZN Italia.
“We defended very well, apart from a couple of situations, where Adrian Semper made two great saves. It is another brick in the wall for our self-confidence, we must continue like this.”
There was a shift to four at the back to counter Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 formation, so could this be the path forward?
“The team has shown it can play this way too, we worked on it this week, and are ready to try it again in future. What matters for me is the way we interpret the match, based also on the characteristics of the opponents.”
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Idrissa Toure’ of Pisa Sporting Club reacts during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Without a win yet, Pisa have climbed out of the relegation zone this evening with five points, leaving Hellas Verona, Fiorentina and Genoa behind them.
This was their third positive result in a row, drawing with Hellas Verona, Milan and Lazio, keeping two clean sheets in that spell.
Maurizio Sarri admits he was ‘forced to try something different’ at Lazio with the transfer embargo, so he has ‘reasons to enjoy it, a few more reasons to be annoyed, I’ll take that.’
The Biancocelesti were hoping to build some real momentum following their victory over Juventus, but while the unbeaten run extended to five games, it was a frustrating night in Pisa.
Both teams had chances and tested the goalkeepers, with Lazio getting the better of the first half, then needing Ivan Provedel to step up after the break.
Sarri forced to try something new at Lazio
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Maurizio Sarri manager of SS Lazio looks on during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“It was a midweek game, we were missing a lot of players and had others who were exhausted after a long spell of inactivity, the Lega Serie A so kindly gave us four days of rest compared to six for Pisa,” Sarri told Sky Sport Italia.
“However, our problem at the moment is that we have a depleted squad and those who are playing had been out for a long time, so are not fully fit either. We remained solid, we didn’t do enough in attack to win the game, but this will suffice right now.”
Goals are proving to be a problem for them so far this season, but the coach rejected the idea there was a problem with the centre-forwards.
“There is a problem in attacking, rather than a problem regarding the centre-forwards. Just like when we concede it is not only the fault of the central defenders, it is not just the strikers who have to work to create chances. We just hope everyone will soon be back to full fitness.”
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio and M’Bala Nzola in action during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Lazio were already decimated by injuries to Elseid Hysaj, Nuno Tavares, Matteo Cancellieri, Taty Castellanos, Samuel Gigot, Nicolò Rovella and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.
This evening, they saw Luca Pellegrini and Mario Gila hobble off in the second half after knocks, but Toma Basic and Gustav Isaksen have been revitalised, while this was their third straight clean sheet.
“Basic had been left off the squad list for so long, but he stepped up and made an immediate impact when called upon,” noted Sarri.
“Unfortunately, Isaksen was suffering from a nasty illness like mononucleosis and it debilitated him, so he was able to play a great game four days ago, but inevitably paid for it today. We have been hanging on and trying to stay afloat since June with very little positive news, so at least we are becoming solid now, that is a plus.
“Success for us would be reaching the end of this calendar year with seven or eight players back so we can finally be competitive.”
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Toma Basic of SS Lazio in action against Idrissa Toure’ of Pisa Sporting Club during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
“I am not able to play my football at the moment, I could not change even a single player in the squad, so I was forced to try something different, and that in itself is fun for me. It gives me a fresh challenge, there are reasons to enjoy it, perhaps a few more reasons to be annoyed, but I will take that.”
Danilo Cataldi is a Lazio fan born and bred, but has he benefited from having a season out on loan at Fiorentina and returning to the club he always supported?
“Playing in Rome for someone from here is very difficult, so perhaps a year outside his natural habitat was good for him. Danilo is very intelligent, has good technique, he just needs a stronger engine and pace, then he’d be ready for any big club,” noted Sarri.
The Aquile are now in 11th place on 12 points from nine rounds, the same as Udinese and Torino.
As both Pisa and Lazio had big chances and forced tough saves, they had to share the points on a rainy night in Tuscany.
Both teams were fresh from positive results, as the hosts were leading Milan until conceding a last-gasp equaliser for 2-2 at San Siro, while the Aquile had beaten Juventus. Pisa were still looking for their first win of the season, missing Raul Albiol, Calvin Stengs, Mateus Lusuardi and Tomas Esteves. The Lazio injury list remained extensive with Elseid Hysaj, Nuno Tavares, Matteo Cancellieri, Taty Castellanos, Samuel Gigot, Nicolò Rovella and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru out of action.
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio and M’Bala Nzola in action during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
Matteo Tramoni failed to make the most of an early opportunity, scuffing well wide from the edge of the area on the M’Bala Nzola lay-off.
Toma Basic saw his angled drive smothered, but Pisa came close again when Idrissa Touré volleyed across the face of goal at the back post on a Juan Cuadrado cross.
Gustav Isaksen twisted and turned to test Adrian Semper at the base of the near post, then moments later forced an even trickier save when set up by Mattia Zaccagni.
Semper out-did himself with a sensational fingertip save to push the Basic daisy-cutter onto the base of the upright from the edge of the area.
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Idrissa Toure’ of Pisa Sporting Club reacts during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
After the restart, Luca Pellegrini intercepted a Tramoni header that was on target, then Simone Canestrelli only grazed his head to a cross, sending it just wide of the far post.
Mario Gila and Luca Pellegrini went off after knocks, but Provedel needed a great reaction save to deny Stefano Moreo’s header on a corner at the 73rd minute.
PISA, ITALY – OCTOBER 30: Oliver Provstgaard of SS Lazio compete for the ball with M’Bala Nzola of Pisa during the Serie A match between Pisa SC and SS Lazio at Arena Garibaldi on October 30, 2025 in Pisa, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)
Pisa’s crosses were causing real problems, as Touré’s towering header on an Angori assist flashed across the face of goal to skim the far post.
Alessio Romagnoli threw himself in the way of a Moreo finish from seven yards after the Nzola lay-off, while Matias Vecino drilled wide from the edge of the box after a smart turn.
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