Empoli coach Aurelio Andreazzoli said his lads ‘gave a nice reaction’ against ‘a strong’ Lazio. ‘We have to be very positive after tonight’.
Lazio fought back from a poor start to beat Empoli 3-1 but were lucky as the home side hit the woodwork and had a goal-line clearance.
The hosts grabbed the lead within four minutes but didn’t manage to hold onto the lead against a Lazio with an inspired Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
“Tonight, it didn’t really go our way against a strong team with very clear ideas,” Andreazzoli told Sky Sport Italia.
“We knew we would have to suffer in certain situations, but we were good. We hit the post, we took a penalty on our own, we hit the crossbar and had two big chances.
“The lads gave a nice reaction and I think we have to be very positive tonight.”
Andreazzoli praised Lazio full-back Manuel Lazzari, who scored the 2-1 goal, and said the Biancocelesti’s experience might have made a difference.
“I think in the end, the numbers indicate a lot,” he said. “Many are tied and the others are in our favour, it’s an evaluation that must be considered.
“It’s not the first time Lazzari shows his qualities and, in his inclusion, for example, we must definitively review something.”