Lazio beat Juventus to take control of Serie A top 4 race

MILAN: Second-placed Lazio took control of a tight Serie A battle for the Champions League qualifying places after beating Juventus 2-1 on Saturday.

Mattia Zaccagni scored what was to prove the winner early in the second half after Adrien Rabiot canceled out Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s controversial opener.

Lazio moved five points clear of third-placed Roma, who won at Torino 1-0. Lazio were six points ahead of AC Milan and seven ahead of fifth-placed Inter Milan after they dropped points on Friday.

Juventus — hit by a 15-point penalty in January — were seventh, eight points below Milan.

Despite their point deduction, Juventus closed in on the top four with a run of seven wins in eight matches.

Lazio broke their deadlock in the 38th minute when Milinkovic-Savic chested down a pass from Zaccagni and fired into the back of the net.

There were lengthy Juventus protests as Milinkovic-Savic had one hand on Alex Sandro’s back as they went for the ball and the defender went sprawling. But the goal was given after a check by the VAR much to the Bianconeri’s disgust.

That appeared to motivate them even more as they leveled just four minutes later. A corner was floated in and Ivan Provedel parried Bremer’s header but Rabiot turned home the rebound at the third try after the Lazio goalkeeper kept out the first two attempts.

Lazio restored their advantage eight minutes into the second half with a fine team goal. Luis Alberto flicked on Felipe Anderson’s cross with a backheel for Zaccagni to sweep across into the bottom right corner.

HOPES DENTED

Atalanta’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League took a blow when they lost at home to Bologna 2-0.

Nicola Sansone and Riccardo Orsolini scored in the second half