Lazio squeezes past Felipe Crotone in Serie A

ROME: Felipe Caicedo made the most of his substitute appearance on Friday as his winner helped Lazio scrape past bottom-placed Crotone 3-2.

The Biancocelesti has struggled recently as it suffered three defeats in a row in all competitions, including a 4-1 fiasco against Bayern Munich.

In Friday's game, Lazio fumbled the lead twice as Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Luis Alberto's goals were canceled by Simeon Nwankwo's brace.

In a desperate bid for a home victory, the Aquile then took off Ciro Immobile and threw on Caicedo.

The change proved decisive in the 84th minute when Gonzalo Escalante's attempt from outside the box turned into an assist for Caicedo who smashed in with a right-footed volley.

Lazio now ranks seventh with 46 points and will visit Bayern next Wednesday for the Champions League Round of 16 second leg.

Atalanta, who also has a European battle next week, staged a second-half show to score three goals, including a Mario Pasalic's brace, beating Spezia 3-1.

The Dea will travel to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on Real Madrid next Tuesday after losing 1-0 to the Los Blancos in the first leg. Agencies

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