Trending
Lazio trail the defending champions on goal difference. However, their 19 points from the opening seven league matches represent the club’s best start to a Serie A season, surpassing the 17 points collected by Sven-Goran Eriksson’s team in 1999-2000.
That historic side remained unbeaten in its first nine matches before winning Lazio’s second and most recent Serie A title. They finished one point ahead of Juventus.
Lazio took the lead in the 37th minute through Danish defender Oliver Provstgaard. The 1.93-metre centre-back rose above the Juventus defence and directed his header inside the far post.
Gustav Isaksen doubled the visitors’ advantage after 66 minutes. The Danish winger cut inside a retreating defender before sending a low shot into the far corner.
Substitute Fisayo Dele-Bashiru completed the emphatic victory three minutes before full-time. He collected the ball in his own half, advanced into the Juventus penalty area with little resistance and calmly finished past the goalkeeper.
The result strengthened Lazio’s position in the title race and delivered a significant setback to Juventus.
AC Milan also secured three important points, beating Atalanta 3-2 to finish the weekend in fourth place, four points behind the league leaders.
Pakistan’s Economy More Resilient After Reforms, Says SBP Governor
Gonçalo Ramos opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Atalanta debutant Relja Obric handled Yunus Musah’s shot inside the area. The 20-year-old defender had entered the match in the 19th minute as a replacement for the injured Sead Kolasinac.
Milan extended their lead before half-time when Adrien Rabiot’s effort passed through Obric’s legs and found the net.
Atalanta received an opportunity to respond after another handball penalty was awarded in the 65th minute. This time, Thomas Kristensen was penalised, but Ramos failed to convert as goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi saved his attempt.
Milan quickly capitalised on the reprieve. Rabiot redirected a corner, allowing Mario Gila to head home from close range at the far post.
Atalanta fought back through second-half goals from Gianluca Gaetano and Nikola Krstovic. However, Milan held on during a tense final 10 minutes to secure their fourth league victory of the campaign.
Rabiot stressed the importance of maintaining a consistent performance throughout matches.
“Usually, we struggle at the start of the match and play better in the second half. It was the opposite today; we need to find the right balance, but these are three important points in our season,” he said.
The midfielder had received a yellow card shortly before scoring. He later appeared to argue with the referee, prompting France team-mate Mike Maignan to try to calm him down.
Milan coach Ruben Amorim defended Rabiot and praised his response to the situation.
“He’s a very important player for us,” Amorim said. “At half-time, we told him to be careful and, as he’s a very intelligent person, he handled the situation well.”
Como moved into fifth place with a 3-1 away victory over struggling Fiorentina.
Mattia Liberali and Nico Paz scored in the first half to give Como control of the match. Fiorentina reduced the deficit shortly before the interval through Marin Pongracic.
However, Anastasios Douvikas scored early in the second half to restore Como’s two-goal advantage and seal the victory.
The defeat left Fiorentina on four points in the relegation zone. Como, meanwhile, ended a run of three matches without a win.
“We played a very complete game,” Como coach Cesc Fabregas said. “There are risks when you play the way we do. There’s no such thing as perfect tactics.”
In Sunday’s other Serie A fixture, Lecce defeated Udinese 3-0 away from home.
Kialonda Gaspar, Konan N’Dri and Jamil Siebert scored for Lecce to complete a convincing victory.
The result added another important three points to Lecce’s campaign as the Serie A standings continued to take shape.
[…] Lazio Thrash Juventus 3-0 in Turin to Join Inter Milan at Serie A Summit […]