Lazio beat Chievo 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Stadio Olimpico in Serie A, climbing to 31 points.
The visitors took the lead after just five minutes with Bostjan Cesar heading home. Cesar himself complicated things for Chievo as he was sent off at the start of the second half. Shortly after Antonio Candreva scored the penalty to make it 1-1, and on 72 minutes Lazio took the lead with Danilo Cataldi. It was Candreva again to seal the win for the Biancocelesti on 81 minutes before Keita Balde Diao made it 4-1 in the final minutes.
Stefano Pioli’s men started slowly, giving confidence to Chievo who quickly went in front thanks to Cesar’s header.
Lazio started to react, with the Flying Donkeys also going close to scoring a second with some counterattacks.
The Biancocelesti struggled to create any chance until the 41st minute, when Marco Parolo’s touch from close range went just millimetres out.
Just before the half-time whistle Filip Djordjevic went close to equalising with a header, but the first half ended with Rolando Maran’s men in the lead.
The second 45 minutes started in favour of Lazio, with Cesar being sent off naively for a second yellow card and Lazio really pushing for the 1-1.
Pioli immediately tried to take advantage of the extra man bringing on two strikers, Miroslav Klose and Alessandro Matri.
Shortly after, on 65 minutes Massimo Gobbi took Candreva down in his box, with a penalty being given to Lazio.
The Italy international took it himself, making the game level on 66 minutes.
Only six minutes later Cataldi made it 2-1 with a shot following a corner and giving the lead to the hosts.
Candreva found his second to seal the win for Pioli’s men with nine minutes to go.
There was still some thrill at the end, with Stefan Radu being sent off for a foul on Alberto Paloschi, who then went on to miss the consequent penalty, as it was brilliantly saved by Etrit Berisha.
On 92 minutes Felipe Anderson hit the post to give further merit to Lazio’s victory, before on 96 minutes Keita scored again to make it 4-1.
Chievo stay behind Lazio therefore, comfortably in mid-table on 27 points, whilst the Biancocelesti go up to 31 points and continue their race to the European spots.
