Lazio had to work hard to secure all three points in a testing clash away to relegation candidates Cagliari.
The Biancocelesti have been under fire in recent weeks following a run of poor results, suffering defeats to Atalanta and Inter and drawing Napoli. Some rumours even suggested that Maurizio Sarri could be dismissed, something publicly ruled out by president Claudio Lotito.
Things haven’t been much more positive for Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari, who lost their three prior league matches heading into their Saturday afternoon clash with Lazio. The team are languishing in the relegation zone and need to start picking up points quickly.
Lazio started the match in Sardinia on the front foot and took the lead in the 26th minute in rather bizarre fashion; Gustav Isaksen passed across the six-yard box and a scramble in the Cagliari defence ultimately saw Alessandro Deiola poke the ball into his own net, giving the away side a 1-0 lead.
The Biancocelesti doubled their lead early in the second half after Isaksen’s parried shot fell to Ciro Immobile, who blasted the ball home from a tight angle to double his team’s advantage, netting his 200th in Serie A.
Cagliari responded just moments later after Gianluca Gaetano’s impressive long shot beat Ivan Provedel, clawing one back for the home side in the 51st minute.
Lazio secured their victory just 14 minutes later, when Matias Vecino played the ball across to Felipe Anderson, who cut inside before taking a shot that deflected past Simone Scuffet, putting the away side 3-1 up.
It was a much needed victory for Sarri and Lazio, who broke a three-game winless run to return to the fight for a top four finish.
