UCL: Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel scores late equaliser v Atletico – but this isn’t his first goal

One regular day of Champions League, that’s all I ask.

Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel rescued a point in the most dramatic circumstances during their Champions League Group E opener against Atletico Madrid. Most would not have expected the goalie to produce a last-gasp header to tie the match – but this is something that Provedel has done before.

Atleti and boss Diego Simeone, returning to a club from his playing days, looked to be leaving Italy with a win as the game headed into injury time.

Pablo Barrios had opened the scoring on the half-hour mark at the Stadio Olimpico. His heavily deflected shot left Provedel rooted to the spot in the Lazio net and gave the visitors the lead. However, the Italian shot-stopper would get his revenge deep into stoppage time.

After clearing a corner in the 95th minute, the La Liga side must have felt like they had stolen three points. Instead, Luis Alberto picked up the ball and delivered a wicked cross into the box. Provedel then showed surprisingly good movement to slip clear and improbably plant a header past his counterpart in the Atletico net.

Such a sensational moment on UCL Matchday 1  is also a historic one. Whilst rescuing a point for Lazio, Ivan Provedel became just the fourth goalkeeper to score in the history of the Champions League.

Additionally, the Italian is only the second to score in open play.

Now, keepers are typically unlikely to score a goal throughout their entire career. In Provedel’s case, though, history repeated itself last night.

Ivan Provedel: Lazio GK’s first career goal actually came three years earlier

In February 2020, Provedel scored a header, in the 95th minute, to rescue a point. Freaky, isn’t it?

Well, in this particular instance, Ivan Provedel was not playing for Lazio. Instead, the Italian shot-stopper lined up for Juve Stabia, earning them a point from a Serie B game against Ascoli. His strike at the death saw the match finish 2-2.

The video of his first goal is (hopefully) available to watch below:

Fast forward to 2023/24, and Provedel managed to repeat the incredible feat for I Biancocelesti. It is truly remarkable how the world works sometimes.

Group E recap

Elsewhere in Group E, Feyenoord got off to a winning start following a 2-0 victory over Celtic.

An incident-packed night actually got off to a slow start, with Calvin Stengs opening the scoring for the hosts at the end of the first half. After the interval, Celtic saw themselves down to ten men when Gustaf Lagerbielke earned a second yellow card.

But the Scottish side still had hope as Joe Hart saved Igor Paixao’s resulting penalty.

YouTube video

Unfortunately, this optimism faded for the visitors as Odin Holm received a straight red for a reckless lunge. Former Brighton man Alireza Jahanbakhsh then scored Feyenoord’s second, allowing the Eredivisie side to see out the win.

Read – Throwback XI: Legendary players that never won the Champions League

Feyenoord are top of Group E as a result of this victory, whilst Ivan Provedel’s heroics see Atletico and Lazio tied for second.

Featured image credit: Getty

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