Lazio continued their push for a Serie A top-four spot with a 2-1 victory over struggling Cagliari on Monday, who ended the match in Rome with nine players.
Mattia Zaccagni scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in the 76th minute at the Stadio Olimpico, lifting Lazio to fifth place and tying them on 22 points with third-placed Atalanta and Fiorentina. The result marked Lazio's eighth win in nine games across all competitions, putting them just three points behind league leaders Napoli.
Zaccagni’s goal followed Cagliari’s Zito Luvumbo equalizing Boulaye Dia's early opener just before halftime.
Cagliari’s troubles worsened minutes later when Yerry Mina received a second yellow card for a soft foul on Valentin Castellanos, reducing them to ten men. Michel Adopo was also sent off shortly after for his protests, leaving Cagliari with nine players.
Earlier, Mario Balotelli made his return to Serie A, debuting for Genoa in their 1-0 victory over Parma, lifting them out of the relegation zone. Andrea Pinamonti’s late goal secured the win before Balotelli, 34, entered as a substitute, marking his first league appearance in four years. He was booked in stoppage time, having limited time to make an impact.
Genoa now sit just above the drop zone, level on nine points with Parma, Cagliari, and Como, who lost 1-0 to Empoli.