MILAN: Lazio threw the race for Champions League places wide open when an early Sergej Milinkovic-Savic goal gave them a 1-0 win at third-placed Inter Milan in Serie A on Sunday. The Serbia international stunned the San Siro when he caught Inter midfielder Marcelo Brozovic off his guard to head in at the far post from Luis Alberto’s cross in the 13th minute. Lazio’s win took them to fifth on 48 points with Atalanta, one ahead of AS Roma and three behind fourth-placed AC Milan – who lost 1-0 at Sampdoria on Saturday – with a game in hand. Inter Milan have 53 points and only eight separate them from ninth-placed Sampdoria (45). The top four qualify for next season’s Champions League. Inter were again without forward Mauro Icardi, who has not played since he was stripped of the captaincy in mid-February and then complained he had a knee injury. The Argentine returned to training this week but was surprisingly left out by coach Luciano Spalletti. Inter had more possession but created few real chances and could easily have lost by more. Their keeper Samir Handanovic kept Lazio’s halftime lead to a single goal by blocking a Bastos header at point-blank range and turning away Luis Alberto’s effort with a one-handed save. Handanovic then made a brilliant double save in the second half, first denying Felipe Caicedo after the Ecuadorean burst through the Inter defence and tried to chip the keeper, and then foiling Ciro Immobile from the rebound.
Lazio stun Inter to throw Champions League race wide open
Published on: April 2, 2019 1:14 AM