Lazio” data-scaytid=”1″>Lazio put their pre-season troubles behind them with a comfortable away win over FK mura in the Europa League play-off round.
Lazio put their pre-season troubles behind them with a comfortable away win over FK mura in the Europa League play-off round.
New boss Vladimir Petkovic was under pressure after friendly defeats to Galatasaray and Getafe.
The Bosnian opted for a 4-3-3 shape, with Antonio Candreva and Stefano Mauri accompanying Miroslav Klose up front and teenager Ogenyi Onazi starting in midfield.
Slovenian hosts Mura were only still in the competition because Arsenal Kiev – who beat them 5-0 on aggregate in the last round – were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player.
The gulf between the competitors was made apparent when Hernanes scored a spectacular opener from 30 yards with half an hour played.
Lazio doubled up fifteen minutes after the interval and it was classic Klose, the German striker throwing himself at an Abdoulay Konko cross from the right and powering a header into the bottom corner.
Forwards Mauro Zarate and Sergio Floccari, who have both been touted for moves away from the Aquile, came off the bench late on, the former skimming the bar with a well struck free kick.
FK Mura 0 Lazio 2
Scorers: Hernanes 31 (L) Klose 59 (L)
Mura: Drakovic; Kramar (Sres 62), Travner, Janza, Vas; Horvat, Buzeti, Marusko, Bohar (Majer 86); Fajic, Eterovic (Kouter 60)
Lazio: Marchetti; Cavanda, Dias, Biava, Konko; Onazi, Ledesma, Hernanes (Lulic 60); Candreva, Klose (Floccari 83), Mauri (Zarate 71)
Ref: Courtney (NIR)