Domenica Bastardi Game 9 of 38: Rain, chaos and resilience as Lazio battle to a point in Pisa

After recovering — or at least trying to recover — from the madness of the robbery, it was time for Pisa. 

A new ground for me, and the first time I can remember Lazio facing Pisa in any competition.

After the big win over Juventus, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Four points from Atalanta away and Juve at home had left me buzzing, but with Lazio you can never quite tell which version will turn up. All I could do was hope we’d build on the momentum.

Given it was only a short drive, I decided to take the car rather than deal with public transport. 

That turned out to be one of my better decisions — because the whole ticketing process was a complete disaster.

Ticket Hassle

After days of obsessively checking when tickets for Pisa vs Lazio would go on sale, they finally announced — on Friday, just six days before the match — that sales would begin that afternoon at 15:30. 

The timing couldn’t have been worse: I was due to be teaching, and briefly wondered if a “tactical toilet break” might give me just enough time to snag one.

If it was anything like Como’s awful ticketing system, I’d have no chance. But Pisa use TicketOne, which, while not perfect, is still a big step up. (Though personally, I still prefer Vivaticket.)

Just as I was plotting my next move, Eva messaged me with some bad news: tickets for Lazio fans were only available face-to-face in Rome or at an official TicketOne outlet.

Needless to say, they sold out incredibly fast — within an hour or two, they were completely gone.

Thankfully, I’d already prepared a Plan B. If things went wrong, I’d buy a Pisa membership (€10 plus €9.99 postage) and grab a seat in the Curva Sud, right next to the Lazio section. It wasn’t ideal, but it would do.

Then, just 48 hours before kick-off, the chaos hit another level. Despite there being no issues in recent Lazio away games, a last-minute ban was announced for fans from the Lazio region. 

All tickets were to be refunded — though that was little comfort for those who’d booked travel, hotels, or taken time off work.

On a personal note, it was gutting. I’d have loved to be in the away section, even though Luca later counted that there were only 28 of us who made it in. Still, for those 28, it must have been quite the story.

Rain Pain!

Earlier in the day, I had the morning shift at school. When I left home the sky was clear and blue, so I took the e-scooter — I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea, but honestly, it’s been a bit of a game changer.

The problem was the weather didn’t stay that way. By the time I clocked out, it was hammering down. Fortunately, my boss Dre lent me a handy waterproof bag cover so I could protect my laptop, but it didn’t do much for me — I was soaked before I’d even made it around the corner!

Normally the scooter’s battery easily gets me to and from work, but battling through the downpour drained it fast. 

The red light came on, and for the last kilometre or two I was crawling along at 10 km/h instead of the usual 25. By the time I got home, I looked (and felt) like a drowned rat. Straight into the shower.

An hour later, I was back on the road — this time by car, heading for Pisa. But the rain wasn’t done with me yet. As soon as I got out of the car, it started pouring again.

In true Domenica Bastardi fashion, I hadn’t thought to bring an umbrella, assuming it would be confiscated at the gate… yet to my surprise, half the fans inside the stadium had them! Typical.

The Game

After all the ticket chaos and the endless rain, the game itself finally arrived — and thankfully, it was worth the trip. 

Lazio came away from Pisa with a solid performance and another valuable result, showing the kind of resilience that’s been growing in recent weeks.

The match was tight and tense throughout. Pisa started brightly, feeding off the energy from their home crowd, who created a surprisingly lively atmosphere for a wet Thursday evening. 

Their pressing and tempo caused a few early problems, but Lazio gradually settled and began to take control.

When Lazio clicked into gear, the difference in quality was clear (at times) — tidy passing, quick transitions, and composure in the key moments but no end product. 

Pisa had a few half-chances late on, but Ivan Provedel, once again, was alert when called upon.

What stood out most for me was the atmosphere. Pisa’s fans were loud, especially during their better spells, and the Curva Nord (of Pisa, not Lazio!) really gave it some. But sitting among them was… difficult. 

I found it very hard to stay quiet — every near miss or moment of tension had me biting my tongue. And honestly, a bit of singing and jumping around would’ve helped warm me up on a freezing, rain-soaked evening!

After the match, Pedro confirmed what many had been expecting — that this would be his final season with Lazio. A class act on and off the pitch, and it felt fitting that he was applauded warmly by both sets of fans when he came off.

Matchday Experience

Getting Back and Car Park Issues!

I flirted with the idea of leaving early — but then I heard my dad’s voice in my head: “Never leave a game early!” 

So, of course, I stayed until the final whistle, periodically wringing out my drenched hat like some sort of half-frozen towel.

As soon as the game ended, I rushed back to the car. When I got to the car park near the station, though, I realised I had no idea how to get back inside. 

A few people told me I’d need my ticket, but I’d used Telepass (the automatic toll device). Unfortunately, in my tired and soggy state, I called it the wrong name, which only added to the confusion.

One of the girls nearby, trying to be helpful, said kindly in English: “This is a car park.” I knew she wasn’t taking the piss, so I just smiled and replied, “Yes, my car is in the car park — but I used Telepass!”

A friendly guy then told me I’d need the last six digits of my Telepass to open the access door — needless to say, I didn’t have a clue what they were. 

Thankfully, they invited me to come down with them instead. The man who’d mentioned the Telepass code turned out to be claustrophobic, so we opted for the stairs — where we met two more people who were just as confused as me. The five of us formed a little convoy, descending together in search of our cars like survivors of a long night in Pisa.

Once I finally got out of the car park, the drive home was smooth — no stops needed, just the hum of the road and the sound of rain easing off at last.

Conclusion

All in all, it was a solid point away from home, especially considering the injury problems in the squad. 

Another clean sheet was vital — a sign that the defence is starting to find its shape again — but if Lazio really want to push for a return to Europe, these are the kinds of matches we’ll need to start turning into wins.

It was also bittersweet to hear Pedro confirm that this will be his final season with the club. It’s probably the right time, but it’ll still be sad to see him go. 

Since that shock move across the city — unwanted by José Mourinho at Roma — he’s become a fan favourite in the Curva Nord, a model professional who’s always given everything for the shirt.

Rain, chaos, ticket drama, and car park confusion — just another Domenica Bastardi. But a point’s a point, another stadium ticked off, and another story for the collection.