Lazio Edge Closer to Top Four with Nine-Man Cagliari Victory

Lazio's relentless pursuit of Serie A's top four continued with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over relegation-threatened Cagliari on Monday. The match at the Stadio Olimpico witnessed a dramatic turn of events, with Cagliari finishing the game with nine men.

Mattia Zaccagni emerged as the hero for Lazio, converting a crucial penalty in the 76th minute. His goal propelled Lazio to fifth place, just a goal difference away from the coveted Champions League positions. The victory marked Lazio's eighth win in nine matches across all competitions, putting them within striking distance of league leaders Napoli.

Cagliari's hopes of an upset were initially boosted by Zito Luvumbo's equalizer just before halftime, canceling out Boulaye Dia's early opener for Lazio. However, their fortunes took a nosedive after Zaccagni's penalty.

Yerry Mina's second yellow card for a seemingly innocuous foul on Valentin Castellanos sparked a chain reaction. Michel Adopo's furious protests earned him a second booking and a red card, leaving Cagliari with only nine players on the field.

Meanwhile, Mario Balotelli made his long-awaited Serie A return for Genoa, who secured a vital 1-0 victory over fellow strugglers Parma. Andrea Pinamonti's goal with 10 minutes remaining proved decisive, lifting Genoa out of the relegation zone.

Balotelli, now 34, made his first Serie A appearance in four years as a late substitute. Despite limited playing time, he managed to pick up a yellow card in stoppage time. Genoa now sits one point above the drop zone, level with Parma, Cagliari, and Como.

Tags: #SerieA, #Lazio, #Cagliari, #MattiaZaccagni, #MarioBalotelli