Despite failing to earn a shutout win due to a schoolboy error, Lazio had by far the most dominating performance in the round and vanquished Parma with a magnificent first half.
They came into the game looking to redeem themselves after a slightly disappointing tie in Florence, where they could have easily won the game with more precision and more intensity, especially in the second half, while they squashed Roma in the Derby two weeks ago.
With Ciro Immobile suspended, Simone Inzaghi tabbed Felipe Caicedo as his replacement and fielded again his high quality midfield, featuring all three of his most inventive players, Joaquin Correa, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto surrounding Lucas Biglia and in lieu of the stalwart Marco Parolo. Patric got the nod as third centre-back over Luiz Felipe and Bastos.
The Biancocelesti made things clear right from the get-go and at the 22nd minute Adam Marusic motored down the right flank and slotted it on the near post and the ball went through Luigi Sepe’s hands. Three minutes later, Simone Iacoponi stopped a cross with a handball and Luis Alberto drained the penalty, ending an extensive scoring drought.
The Spaniard doubled his personal tally by concluding a wonderful interplay between Senad Lulic and Joaquin Correa with a stunning daisy-cutter from distance. Lulic made it four-nil just before the end of the first half in similar fashion but this time off a corner kick.
The smooth sailing in the second half was marred only by an errant backpass by Patric, who fed Matteo Sprocati instead of his goalie and the winger easily put it on goal. Even with Lazio activating the cruise control and looking ahead of the clash with Inter after the break, Danilo Cataldi, Luis Alberto and Correa still came close to finding the fifth goal late, but their shots went wide.
Since Atalanta drew against Chievo and Torino lost versus Bologna in this round, Lazio now share the sixth position with the Bergamaschi, but have played one fewer game, against Udinese, which they will recover on April 10th. They are two points behind Roma.
Even without the clean sheet, it was a significant haul in the fantasy game: Luis Alberto was the highest earner in all of Serie A with his ten points this week, then Marusic and Lulic were reward with four for their goals, while Milinkovic-Savic and Correa amassed two for setting up their teammates.
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