Lazio won 3-2 at relegation-threatened Genoa in one of only two matches to go ahead in Serie A on Sunday following the coronavirus outbreak.
Adam Marušić, Ciro Immobile and Danilo Cataldi scored for Lazio to ensure the capital side remained within a point of Serie A leader Juventus, which won 2-1 at Spal on Saturday.
Lazio also moved five points above third-place Inter Milan. The Nerazzurri’s match against Sampdoria was one of three Serie A soccer matches postponed on orders from the Italian government late Saturday night after the deaths of two people infected with the virus from China.
Lazio's Danilo Cataldi celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Lazio, at the Luigi Ferrari stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Tano PecoraroLapresse via AP)
Atalanta vs. Sassuolo and Hellas Verona vs. Cagliari were also called off while Torino’s match at home to Parma was postponed hours before kickoff on Sunday, following new cases in Piedmont.
The only other match to go ahead on Sunday is Roma’s match at home to Lecce.
Numbers of infected persons in the country have soared to at least 133. Almost all of Italy's cases are clustered in the north, with roughly a dozen towns on lockdown — meaning that people are not allowed to enter or leave the towns' boundaries.
Lazio's Adam Marusic, second right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Lazio, at the Luigi Ferrari stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Tano PecoraroLapresse via AP)
Juventus, which is also based in Turin — in Piedmont — is set to host Inter next week in the return of former coach Antonio Conte. That match — and others — could now go ahead behind closed doors.
There are also concerns over Inter’s Europa League match against Ludogorets, with the second leg scheduled for Thursday in Milan. The Bulgarian side has written to UEFA.
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Lazio's Ciro Immobile, is challenged by Genoa's Valon Behrami, left, during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Lazio, at the Luigi Ferrari stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. (Tano PecoraroLapresse via AP)
Federico Bernardeschi scored against his former club as Juventus beat Fiorentina 2-0 on Wednesday to set up an Italian Cup final against Inter Milan.
After Fiorentina goalkeeper Bartłomiej Drągowski failed to intercept a cross, Bernardeschi controlled the ball with his chest then volleyed in shortly after the half-hour mark.
Danilo sealed it in stoppage time after being set up by Juan Cuadrado.
Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)
Aiming to defend its title, Juventus advanced on 3-0 aggregate.
Defending Serie A champion Inter beat city rival AC Milan 3-0 on Tuesday to advance.
Juventus has won the Italian Cup a record 14 times, while Inter has seven trophies in the competition — the last from 2011.
Juventus' Adrien Rabiot, right, and Fiorentina's Jonathan Ikone battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)
The final is scheduled for May 11.
Juventus also had a goal from Adrien Rabiot wiped off for offside following a VAR check.
SALERNITANA SUCCESS
An injury-time winner earned Salernitana a 1-0 win at Udinese in Serie A, keeping the southern club’s hopes of avoiding relegation alive.
Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic, left, and Fiorentina's Alfred Duncan battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)
Having won at Sampdoria on Saturday, it marked the first time this season that Salernitana posted consecutive victories.
Substitute Simone Verdi finished off a counterattack three minutes into stoppage time.
The bottom three clubs — Venezia, Salernitana and Genoa — are now level on points, each six points from safety.
Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, left, and Fiorentina's Arthur Cabral battle for the ball during the Italian Cup semifinal soccer match between Juventus and ACF Fiorentina at the Allianz Stadium in Turin, Italy, Wednesday, April 20, 2022. (Marco AlpozziLaPresse via AP)
The match was postponed four months ago amid a coronavirus outbreak within Salernitana’s squad.
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