After some shocking misses, Lazio managed to squeeze past Sampdoria with a fantastic Luis Alberto strike and move to within two points of second place.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic returned after missing two games with a stomach bug, but Mattia Zaccagni was still debilitated and Alessio Romagnoli injured, so Pedro played with a protective mask after fracturing his nose. Samp missed Fabio Quagliarella, Filip Djuricic, Jeison Murillo, Koray Gunter, Ignacio Pussetto and Andrea Conti.
Luis Alberto’s corner was knocked on to the back post by Milinkovic-Savic, but Ciro Immobile lost his balance and kicked it onto his own hand.
Michael Cuisance was sent clear on goal by Manolo Gabbiadini and his finish was deflected wide by a crucial Adam Marusic block.
Pedro slipped as he took a shot from the edge of the area and drilled wide, but there was an extraordinary triple Lazio opportunity on 40 minutes.
First Emil Audero only parried the Felipe Anderson strike, then Pedro clipped the base of the near post on the rebound before Immobile fired over at the third time of asking.
Marusic risked an own goal with a clumsy clearance on Gabbiadini’s cross, then gave the ball away cheaply and was glad Gabbiadini only fired straight at Ivan Provedel.
Sampdoria came out fighting for the second half, Gabbiadini nodding onto the side-netting and Provedel plucking a Sam Lammers header out from under the bar.
Despite all that, Ciro Immobile really should’ve put Lazio in front on the hour mark, but incredibly ballooned over from six yards on a Marusic pull-back.
Marusic’s miss soon after wasn’t much better, as he had been sent clear by Milinkovic-Savic, but Audero did need a good save on Felipe Anderson’s ferocious half-volley from outside the box.
There was bad news for Samp, as Gabbiadini received a yellow card and will be suspended for the relegation showdown with Salernitana, while Lazio defender Nicolò Casale will be banned against Napoli.
This game sorely lacked quality until the breakthrough, as Bram Nuytinck only cleared to the edge of the area, where Luis Alberto hit an unstoppable right-foot first-time strike into the far top corner, giving Audero no chance.
A Toma Basic header was straight at the goalkeeper on a Luis Alberto corner.
Lazio 1-0 Sampdoria
Luis Alberto 80 (L)
Player statistic
| 49' |  |
Mehdi Léris | ||
| 67' | |
Manolo Gabbiadini | ||
| Matías Vecino | |
71' | ||
| Nicolò Casale | |
78' | ||
| Luis Alberto |  |
80' |
Match statistic
