Lazio Beat Empoli 3-1, Close To Inter Milan At The Top Of The Standings

Lazio players celebrate the victory against Empoli (Twitter @OfficialSSLazio)

JAKARTA - Lazio started their 2021/22 season in the Italian League by thrashing promoted Empoli 3-1.

Come to the Carlo Castellani Stadium, Saturday local time, Lazio was able to come back from behind to beat Empoli 3-1.

Empoli, who has returned to promotion to the top flight after two years, got off to a convincing start after opening the scoring with just four minutes of play.

Filippo Bandinelli fired accurately to tear the visitors' goal.

However, the lead did not last long, as two minutes later Lazio quickly equalized when Felipe Anderson's corner was met by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's header to make it 1-1.

The match was relatively open and Empoli would have almost restored their lead had Bandinelli's long-range shot not been denied by the post in the 24th minute.

Seven minutes later it was Lazio who took the lead when Milinkovic-Savic's through ball was caught, controlled, and finished by Manuel Lazzari to beat goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

👑 La legge di Re Ciro alla prima stagionale

2016/2017 ✅⚽️

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2018/2019 ✅⚽️

2019/2020 ✅⚽️

2020/2021 ✅⚽️

2021/2022 ✅⚽️#CMonEagles 🦅 pic.twitter.com/zLiPS00Zcd

— S.S.Lazio (@OfficialSSLazio) August 21, 2021

The visitors were awarded a penalty after Vicario was found to have fouled Francesco Acerbi in a corner and Ciro Immobile took the opportunity to convert from the spot to widen Lazio's lead four minutes from halftime.

The second half was open and Lazio almost added to the lead if only Elseid Hysaj's finish on Acerbi's through ball was not blocked by Vicario.

On the other hand, Empoli, who kept trying to fight back, found their only chance to end up hitting the crossbar from Nedim Bajrami's long-range shot in the third minute of injury time, ensuring Lazio's 3-1 score remained unchanged until dispersal.

The result opened a new era for Lazio under Maurizio Sarri, occupying second place in the standings with a collection of three points and a surplus of two on goal difference, just behind reigning champions Inter Milan (3).

Meanwhile, Empoli, who is scoreless and has a two-goal deficit, is in 19th place.