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Ten-man Lazio go four clear |
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Ten-man Lazio extended their lead at the top of Serie A with a smash-and-grab win over Palermo at the Stadio Renzo Barbera.
Andre Dias scored with Lazio's first chance of the game and the Biancoceleste defended their slender lead against an insistent but unfortunate Palermo.
Giuseppe Biava was sent off in the 77th minute but, even with a one-man advantage, the Rosaneri were unable to find a way through as Lazio held on for a win which takes them four points clear of Inter Milan at the top of Serie A.
Palermo made their intentions clear straight from the kick-off with Javier Pastore missing the first chance after only 45 seconds.
Biava was caught in possession by Josip Ilicic and he played the ball into the path of Pastore, who wasted the chance by shooting straight at Nelson Muslera.
Pastore and Ilicic continued to pull the strings for the Sicilians, who appeared to be in control of the game until they fell behind to Lazio's first shot on goal after 27 minutes.
Andre Dias volleyed Ledesma's free-kick past Salvatore Sirigu from eight yards out as Lazio went ahead against the run of play.
Lazio rode their luck with Muslera's clearance rebounding off Pastore and looping over his own crossbar.
Palermo continued to probe, but Lazio almost doubled their lead on the break in the 56th minute.
Stefano Mauri delayed a little too long after being put through on goal by Mauro Zarate and Cesare Bovo was able to recover to slide in and deflect his shot wide of the goal.
No matter what Palermo did, the ball just did not want to go in.
In the 65th minute, Mauricio Pinilla's acrobatic effort was saved incredibly by Muslera and Stephan Lichtsteiner blocked Palermo's shot on the rebound.
It was backs to the wall for Lazio, who lost Biava to a second yellow card in the 77th minute, and Muslera had to be at his best again in the 86th minute to tip Bovo's header over the crossbar before pushing Mattia Cassani's shot wide of the post.
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