LAZIO AND Napoli surged to just three points shy of leaders AC Milan after both sides triumphed in a day of high late drama in Serie A’s last weekend of action before the mid-season break.
Milan lost 1-0 at home to fifth-placed AS Roma on Saturday and their lead has been slashed in half ahead of the league resuming on January 6th. Juventus, in fourth, could even have joined Lazio and Napoli on 33 points had they not been pegged back late on in a 1-1 draw at Chievo yesterday.
Serie A top scorer Edinson Cavani blasted in from 25 metres in injury-time to give Napoli a 1-0 home win over Lecce and spark wild scenes of celebration at the San Paolo where their fourth one-goal victory in a row had begun to look unlikely.
Last term’s relegation candidates Lazio overcame Udinese 3-2 at home to continue their fairytale season thanks to Cristian Zapata’s own goal two minutes from time.
AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo has been ruled out for four weeks because of a thigh strain. Pirlo was injured during the first half of Milan’s defeat by Roma, the Rossoneri struggling to control the game and conceding the goal after he went off.
Milan are trying to sign Antonio Cassano from Sampdoria in time for their next game at Cagliari and the loss of Pirlo’s creativity makes the move even more of a priority.
