Rome (AFP)

Is Lazio Rome about to break the bank? By beating Inter Milan 2-1 on Sunday during the 24th day of Serie A, the team of the capital asserted itself as the most serious rival of Juventus, fragile leader with only one point ahead.

This Lazio-Inter was a first turning point before the last third of the championship and there will be another in 15 days with Juventus-Inter.

But Lazio took the rope and had a superb shot on Sunday. The Romans are now second at one point behind Juventus, who beat Brescia 2-0 without shining, and are two steps ahead of Inter.

The dream season of Simone Inzaghi's men therefore continues and they can believe in the biggest, that of the scudetto, awaited for 20 years on this side of the Italian capital.

In a fuller and warmer Olympic stadium with each sky and white match, Lazio had the merit of reacting well to the opening of the Milan score at the very end of the first period.

It was Young who found the flaw by taking the right shot from Candreva painfully boxed by Strakosha (1-0, 44th).

But quickly after the recovery, Immobile equalized from the penalty spot (50th), then Milinkovic-Savic, author of a great match, gave Lazio the advantage of a left shot in the area after a corner (2- 1, 69e).

The Romans have not lost since day 5 and the first leg against Inter, which gives an idea of ​​their current strength.

Lazio remains an outsider in the title race, of course, but it can all the more believe that Juventus has European ambitions that can cost him points and that it was not yet particularly impressive on Sunday.

To face Brescia (19th), Maurizio Sarri had left several players at rest, while approaching the knockout stage of the Champions League in Lyon on February 26.

- Naples goes up -

Cristiano Ronaldo was not called and de Ligt remained on the bench, while Pjanic was a substitute at kick-off. It was, moreover, from the Bosnian that the very bad news of the day for the Turinese came.

Because Pjanic had to be replaced soon after coming into play, obviously affected by adductors, which does not bode well 10 days from the match against OL, one of his former clubs.

Sarri, on the other hand, found Chiellini, who came into play for the last quarter of an hour even though his summons on Saturday had surprised.

The captain of Turin therefore quickly recovered from his rupture of the cruciate ligament of the right knee, with a resumption of competition five and a half months after his injury.

On the field, the Bianconeri have not really seduced but have taken three important points after two defeats in the last three games.

Their task was made easier by the expulsion of French Ayé in the 37th minute, especially since on the free kick that followed, Dybala opened the scoring with a beautiful strike from the left.

Juve then largely dominated but without enthusiasm. And it was not until the 75th minute to see Cuadrado sheltering the Turinese after a decisive pass from Matuidi.

Naples (8th) confirmed its good week by going to beat Cagliari 1-0 after a closed match. On Wednesday, Gennaro Gattuso's men had already beaten Inter in Milan in the semi-final first leg of the Italian Cup (1-0) and so there is nothing better in the grim season of Napoli.

The Champions League is too far for Naples, but AS Rome and its 5th row synonymous with the Europa League are only six lengths away.

In the other matches of the day, Fiorentina went over Sampdoria Genoa 5-1 and Parma defeated Sassuolo 1-0 thanks to Gervinho.

© 2020 AFP