Lazio Triumphs Over Lecce to Close in on Champions League Spots

Lazio‘s pursuit of a coveted Champions League spot in Serie A took a step forward with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Lecce on Sunday. The triumph pulled them level with fourth-placed Fiorentina, with both teams benefitting from the same goal difference. The decisive goal was beautifully struck by Filipe Anderson in the 58th minute, extending Lazio’s winning streak to five games across all competitions under manager Maurizio Sarri‘s guidance.

In the race for a Champions League qualification, Lazio will closely watch Fiorentina’s upcoming match against Udinese. Meanwhile, Bologna, one point behind Lazio in the standings, will have an opportunity to leapfrog both teams if they secure a victory against Cagliari.

Lecce, who currently have a six-point lead over Cagliari just above the relegation zone, faced Lazio amidst a backdrop of tributes to the former Lazio manager, Sven Goran Eriksson. Eriksson, who recently revealed he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, was commemorated by Lazio fans and the club alike. Supporters unfurled a banner reading ‘The battle starts now, Sven we are with you,’ while Frank Sinatra’s iconic song ‘My Way’ played over the speakers as a tribute to the iconic manager.

Despite being under a one-match stand closure due to racist abuse against Romelu Lukaku in their recent Italian Cup victory over Roma, Lazio played the match in front of spectators. The club will serve the stand ban in their next home match, which will be against Napoli at the end of the month.

In another exciting fixture, AC Milan is set to clash with Roma in what promises to be a headline match of the weekend. Currently placed in third, AC Milan will look to close the 12-point gap between them and league leaders Inter Milan.