Lazio have qualified for the Europa League knockouts after a 2-0 win away to Legia Warsaw and will go head-to-head with Trabzonspor for top spot.
Lazio have qualified for the Europa League knockouts after a 2-0 win away to Legia Warsaw and will go head-to-head with Trabzonspor for top spot.
There are two points separating the top two teams, who play each other at the Stadio Olimpico in the final round of Group J.
Miroslav Klose, Giuseppe Biava, Andre Dias, Bruno Pereirinha and Vinicius were unavailable, but Balde Keita was again picked in attack. There was crowd trouble in the hours leading up to the game with a reported 120 Lazio fans arrested.
Felipe Anderson ballooned over the bar, while Alvaro Gonzalez’s effort was charged down after Keita Balde skipped past his marker down the left. Keita went for goal himself, also blocked in the box, and the goalkeeper smothered a Pedro Cavanda volley. Hernanes had a couple of good opportunities, but scuffed the shot.
Lazio finally broke through with a fine goal from Colombian youngster Brayan Perea. He used one header to get a Lucas Biglia cross under control and, with his back to goal leaning into the defender, flicked the second header into the far top corner.
Perea threatened with another header, but this one was off target, while Keita stung the palms of Dusan Kuciak in goal.
Miroslav Radovic drilled wide, but Lazio were in total control in Warsaw and Gonzalez turned a diving header over when he probably should’ve left it for teammate Hernanes.
Dvalishvili finally had a real chance to score for Legia in first half stoppages, but his shot from a knocked down free kick was charged down by Biglia from point-blank range.
Straight after the restart Felipe Anderson combined with Perea for a strike on the volley beaten away by Kuciak. The goalkeeper also parried a Hernanes screamer.
The Aquile doubled their lead when Hernanes found Anderson with an inspired pass across the edge of the box, which the Brazilian fired low into the far bottom corner.
Hernanes tried to dribble through the entire Legia defence and almost managed it, but eventually ran out of room with the goalkeeper smothering at his feet.
Etrit Berisha came tearing off his line in an attempt to head the ball clear, but failed and was fortunate Henrik Ojamaa only hit the side-netting of an empty goal.
Eddy Onazi came off the bench and his shot was charged down and Senad Lulic flashed an effort across the face of goal, but Legia Warsaw continued their dire record in the group of no points and no goals scored. That almost changed in stoppages when Berisha made a hash of a clearance, but Biglia got back for a goalline clearance on Miroslav Radovic.
Legia Warsaw 0-2 Lazio
Scorers: Perea 24 (La), Anderson 57 (La)
Legia Warsaw: Kuciak; Bereszynski, Rzezniczak, Jodlowiec, Wawrzyniak; Furman (Astiz 64), Vrdoljak; Helio Pinto (Ojamaa 46), Radovic, Brzyski; Dvalishvili (Mikita 75)
Lazio: Berisha; Cavanda, Ciani, Cana, Radu; Gonzalez (Lulic 81), Biglia, Hernanes; Felipe Anderson (Floccari 77), Perea, Keita (Onazi 73)
Ref: Blom (NED)