Lazio are on a roll with their fourth win in five Serie A games, as Patric and Matias Vecino got the better of relegation strugglers Empoli to stay in the European race.

Coach Igor Tudor left Luis Alberto at home over disciplinary issues and was missing injured Mario Gila, with Ivan Provedel still not ready in goal.  The visitors were still without Sebastian Walukiewicz, Alberto Cerri and Tyronne Ebuehi.

See how it unfolded on the Liveblog.

Lazio wore special jerseys and welcomed the heroes of 1974 before kick-off to mark the 50th anniversary of their first Scudetto.

Ciccio Caputo had the ball in the net after 17 minutes, but was clearly offside on the Matteo Cancellieri pass when going one-on-one with Christos Mandas, while Simone Bastoni curled just over after pouncing on a Daichi Kamada error.

Ciro Immobile completed a give and go to burst into the box, but Elia Caprile did enough to steer him wide without contact.

Ardian Ismajli should’ve done better when turning his diving header over from a corner, but Empoli had a huge opportunity when Matteo Guendouzi gave it away, Cancellieri nutmegged Alessio Romagnoli and rolled across for Caputo, forcing a stunning Mandas reaction save.

Moments later, Immobile sprung the offside trap and tested Caprile at the near post, but the visitors twice fired just over with Razvan Marin from the edge of the area.

However, it was Lazio who took the lead with the last kick of the half, as a Mattia Zaccagni corner found Patric surprisingly unmarked to flick in off the outside of the boot from a couple of yards at the near post.

Felipe Anderson’s attempt was deflected over and Matias Vecino fired wide on the counter-attack, while Kamada blasted straight at Caprile.

Mandas had to make a fantastic reaction save to fingertip the Shpendi header off the line at the back post, but Lazio doubled their lead soon after when Vecino finished off the passing move left to right, meeting Pedro’s pass to surge through the centre.

The last kick of the game was a wonderful Jacopo Fazzini free kick that Mandas flew to fingertip out of the near top corner.

Lazio 2-0 Empoli

Patric 45 (L), Vecino 89 (L)

12-05-2024 11:30
MatchDay 36

Player statistic

1st half
Patric
(Assist: Mattia Zaccagni)
Goal 45+3'    
2nd half
    73' Yellow card Emmanuel Gyasi
Manuel Lazzari Yellow card 78'    
Nicolò Rovella Yellow card 86'    
Matías Vecino
(Assist: Pedro)
Goal 89'    
Alessio Romagnoli Yellow card 90+6'    

Match statistic

60
Possession %
40
11
Total shots
16
5
Shots on target
3
1
Shots off target
9
5
Blocked shots
4
7
Corners
7
Offsides
3
18
Fouls
16
LAZ
EMP

Starting lineups

35
Goalkeeper
77
Defender
13
23
Defender
29
Defender
4
Defender
6
Midfielder
88'
8
Midfielder
65'
20
Midfielder
76'
17
Attacker
65'
7
Attacker
65'
25
Goalkeeper
34
Defender
19
3
67'
33
77'
18
Midfielder
30
Midfielder
55'
29
Midfielder
76'
11
Attacker
9
Attacker
67'
20

Substitutes

3
Defender
15
Defender
94
Goalkeeper
18
Attacker
22
Attacker
59
Goalkeeper
65
Midfielder
65'
5
Midfielder
65'
19
Attacker
65'
9
Attacker
76'
32
Midfielder
88'
27
Midfielder
5
Midfielder
17
Attacker
8
Midfielder
1
Goalkeeper
10
Attacker
12
Goalkeeper
2
Defender
28
55'
23
Attacker
67'
13
Defender
67'
21
Midfielder
76'
7
Attacker
77'

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