Lazio played a thrilling 3-3 draw with Hellas Verona at the Stadio Olimpico, which proved enough to ensure fifth place and the Europa League next season.
The Aquile were already sure of their Europa League spot, but needed a point to lock down fifth place ahead of Roma. Patric and Koray Gunter sat out bans, with Ciro Immobile, Luis Alberto and Antonin Barak injured.
It took just six minutes to break the deadlock, as Lazio’s defenders were caught napping by a Darko Lazovic cross floated onto the head of Giovanni Simeone at the back post.
Felipe Anderson fought back bursting to the by-line, but Jovane Cabral turned wide, then nobody managed to get the final touch to a Danilo Cataldi free kick.
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Verona doubled their lead on the counter, as Kevin Lasagna hit a daisy-cutter that bounced off the inside of one upright, rolled along the line and in off the other post.
Lazio got back into it, Felipe Anderson pulling back from the by-line for Jovane Cabral’s right-foot curler from 12 yards.
Felipe Anderson completed the comeback himself, the first attempt charged down and it fell back into his path to fire into the top corner.
The hosts were pushing hard after the restart and turned the game around when Pedro laid it off for Felipe Anderson, the angled drive was parried and the Spaniard finished off the rebound.
Thomas Strakosha got down to palm a Gianluca Caprari free kick round the base of the near post, then parried a Lasagna volley on the resulting corner.
Verona did get back to 3-3 in a chaotic move, as Martin Hongla tried to complete a give and go with Lazovic, but Kamenovic got in the way, negating any possible offside when Hongla did turn in from close range.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic blasted just over, then Francesco Acerbi’s header was fingertipped onto the upright by Alessandro Berardi.
Lazio 3-3 Verona
Simeone 6 (V), Lasagna 14 (V), Jovane Cabral 16 (L), Felipe Anderson 28 (L), Pedro 62 (L), Hongla 76 (V)
Thank you Tudor for playing Coppola. I hope you would give him & Cancelleri more chances next season.