Guendouzi Reacts With Frustration Following Lazio’s Painful Europa League Exit On Penalties

Lazio’s Europa League journey came to a bitter end on Thursday night at the Stadio Olimpico, despite a spirited comeback against Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt. One of the standout performers on the night, midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, found himself at the center of controversy following the penalty shootout heartbreak.

After falling 2-0 in the first leg in Norway, Lazio responded strongly at home. Goals from Taty Castellanos, Tijjani Noslin, and a Boulaye Dia header in extra time had Lazio fans believing in a dramatic turnaround. But Bodo/Glimt’s Andreas Helmersen netted in the 109th minute, leveling the aggregate score and forcing the match to penalties.

While Guendouzi and Dia successfully converted their spot-kicks, missed efforts from Loum Tchaouna and Noslin, along with Castellanos failing to deliver with the decisive fifth attempt, saw Lazio bow out of the tournament.

Post-match tensions boiled over as Guendouzi reportedly voiced his frustration with strong words directed at his teammates, urging them to “show our ability” in a heated tone. According to Sky Sport Italia, the Frenchman also got into a disagreement with assistant coach Fabrizio Del Rosso, prompting head coach Marco Baroni to step in and defuse the situation.

Captain Mattia Zaccagni later sought to downplay the incident, explaining, “It wasn’t about the penalty misses specifically. Everyone reacts to disappointment in different ways. What matters now is unity—we must regroup and turn our attention to the league.”

Lazio’s Europa League run may be over, but the fallout from this emotional night may linger as they refocus on domestic competition.