Serie A Roundup: Lazio beats Sassuolo to close in on top four

MILAN (AP) — Lazio boosted its hopes of qualifying for the Champions League by profitable 2-0 at relegation-threatened Sassuolo on Sunday for its first win of the brand new yr.

Mattia Zaccagni transformed a penalty in first-half stoppage time and Felipe Anderson sealed the end result proper on the finish to assist Lazio transfer to inside three factors of Inter Milan and Juventus and the ultimate Champions League qualifying spots.

Atalanta and Roma can transfer again stage with Lazio with wins over Salernitana and Fiorentina later.

It was Sassuolo’s sixth defeat in its previous seven matches and left it seven factors above the relegation zone.

Lazio had began the yr poorly, dropping at Lecce after which conceding two objectives late on to attract 2-2 towards Empoli final weekend.

It misplaced key ahead and captain Ciro Immobile within the fifteenth minute when he limped off with a muscular downside.

Lazio struggled to carve out goal-scoring probabilities however was handed the chance to interrupt the impasse on the finish of the primary half when Sassuolo defender Jeremy Toljan blocked Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s header with an outstretched arm.

Zaccagni struck the ensuing penalty into the underside left nook.

Lazio had probabilities to double its lead however didn’t handle to till stoppage time when Milinkovic-Savic nodded on an extended aim kick and Anderson caught Sassuolo defender Ruan Tressoldi napping to hurry into the realm and spherical goalkeeper Gianluca Pegolo earlier than depositing into an empty internet.