LAZIO RETURNS TO WINNING WAYS
Lazio midfielder Lucas Leiva was in the starting XI as the Italian capital club returned to winning ways in the league after the defeat to Inter Milan in their penultimate league game. Lucas Leiva was a regular feature in the Lazio starting XI as they went on a run of six straight wins in the Italian Serie A to boost their hopes of securing a place in the Champions League next season. The target for Lazio and manager Simone Inzaghi is a Champions League spot at least having tasted Champions League football for the first time in many years this season. Lazio were able to qualify for the knockout stage and they have a tough tie against Bayern Munich, who are the defending champions. Bayern Munich have won all the six trophies on offer in the last eight months and they would be the guests of Lazio for the first leg later this week before the second leg at the Allianz Arena in Munich next month.
Inter Milan went to the top of the Italian Serie A table last weekend after stopping the six-game winning run of Lazio via a 3-1 win at home. Inter Milan moved one point clear as a result and they have since extended that lead to four points after the events of the weekend. Lazio were able to return to victory ways after that loss to Inter Milan at the San Siro following the slim 1-0 win over Sampdoria at home at the weekend. In-form Luis Alberto was the hero for Lazio as he scored the only goal on 24 minutes off the assist from Serbian international Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Brazilian international Lucas Leiva was on the pitch for 63 minutes before being replaced by Argentine midfielder Gonzalo Escalante. Lucas Leiva had a yellow card before he was subbed off by manager Simone Inzaghi.