Lazio moved closer to qualifying for Serie A’s Champions League with a 1-0 win at bottom Lecce on Sunday, as top-four rivals Fiorentina and Bologna both dropped points.
Felipe Anderson scored the only goal in Lazio’s hard-fought victory in the 58th minute at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, marking Maurizio Sarri’s side’s fifth straight success in all competitions.
Lazio are one point behind Fiorentina as the Tuscan team drew 2-2 at home with Udinese, while Bologna are one point behind in sixth place after losing 2-1 to Cagliari. It’s retreating.
Embala Ntsola’s penalty with three minutes remaining saved Fiorentina a point, leaving Udinese in 16th place, one point above the relegation zone, level with Cagliari.
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Unfortunately for Fiorentina, they were unable to snatch victory as Giacomo Bonaventura’s powerful shot hit the post.
Lazio and Fiorentina now head to Riyadh for the revamped four-team Italian Supercup.
Fiorentina open the tournament on Wednesday with a semi-final against struggling champions Napoli, while Lazio face Serie A leaders Inter Milan the following day.
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However, Sarri was not happy with the new format of the Super Cup and made his feelings clear to reporters after his team’s victory.
“Everyone knows what I think. This tournament has nothing to do with sport. We just get paid and run,” Sarri said.
“We travel the world with our hats in hand… With all the problems that come with an overcrowded fixture list, we have decided to hold a four-team Super Cup.”
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Before kick-off in the Italian capital, Lazio on Wednesday paid tribute to former manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was given a year to live after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Eriksson won the Serie A title in 2000 with a star-studded Lazio team that included Siniša Mihajlovic, Juan Veron, Alessandro Nesta and Marcello Salas, and the year before they won the last ever Cup Winners’ Cup.
“My Way” played from the speakers and fans unfurled a banner that read “The battle begins now. Sven, we’re with you.”
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During Lazio’s midweek win over local rivals Roma in the Italian Cup, the match was attended by fans, despite the fans being forced to close their stands for one match due to racial slurs directed at Romelu Lukaku by supporters. was held in front of.
Lazio will be suspended for their next home match against Napoli later this month.
AC Milan host Roma in the weekend’s headline match on Sunday night, with Stefano Pioli’s third-place side trailing Inter by 12 points before kick-off.
TD/DJ