The goals scored by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Mattia Zaccagni destroyed Juve and greatly increased chances for Lazio competing in the Champions League the following year.
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With nine games left, Lazio is five points clear of Roma in third place and, more crucially, seven points ahead of Inter Milan, who was dropped from the top four following their 1-1 draw at Salernitana on Friday, which was their sole point in their previous four games.
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The tense game at the Stadio Olimpico was won by Zaccagni’s spectacular goal seven minutes after halftime, and the Roman team was rightfully the winners.
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The night belonged to the dangerous Italian winger Zaccagni, who finished a great team move by scoring his 10th goal of the year off of Luis Alberto’s deftly disguised pass.
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Zaccagni told DAZN, “We’re all incredibly delighted since tonight’s match was really significant.
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“We didn’t really give up anything at all, not even in the closing moments when we were somewhat in the lead. It’s a significant advance. Second place is considerably more significant than my ten goals.”
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Adrien Rabiot quickly equalized Milinkovic-opening Savic’s goal, which Juve believed was the result of a foul, in the 38th minute. Zaccagni also had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after giving Lazio the lead.
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Thanks to the victory of the hosts, Napoli, whose large league was reduced to 16 points, no longer needs to worry about Juve in seventh place.
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The Turin giants, who attempted to score a second equalizer late on but were unsuccessful, are expecting to have a 15-point suspension for illegal transfer activity lifted later this month, but even then they would only be ahead of Lazio by one point.
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With their chances of qualifying for Europe through the league diminished, Massimiliano Allegri’s team takes on Sporting Lisbon in the opening leg of their Europa League quarterfinal on Thursday.
