Lazio have taken control of their Europa League quarter-final first leg with a thrilling 4-2 win over Red Bull Salzburg in Thursday night's clash at the Stadio Olimpico.
The hosts opened the scoring after just eight minutes when captain Senad Lulic connected with Dusan Basta's cross and drilled home, sending goalkeeper Alexander Walke the wrong way.
Salzburg were handed a reprieve just before the half-hour mark as Moanes Dabour was fouled by Basta in the Lazio box, prompting the referee to award the visitors a penalty.
Valon Berisha stepped up and duly sent Thomas Strakosha the wrong way to draw the Austrian giants level against the run of play.
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had a great opportunity to put Lazio ahead on the stroke of half time as he met Senad Lulic's cross in the box, but despite being unmarked, he headed wide.
Nonetheless, the Biancocelesti surged ahead in style just after the break when Marco Parolo lashed a superb backheel past Walke and into the back of the away side's net.
Salzburg went on to draw level for the second time in the match through Takumi Minamino, who latched on to Dabour's deft pass in the box to slot beyond the grasp of Strakosha on 71 minutes.
However, Simone Inzaghi's charges would go on to retake the lead just three minutes later as substitute Felipe Anderson marauded past three Salzburg players and drilled a powerful shot home.
On 76 minutes another goal came the way of Lazio, with Lucas Leiva masterminding a counter-attack which culminated in Ciro Immobile slotting through the legs of Walke.
LAZIO (3-5-1-1): Strakosha; Luiz Felipe, De Vrij, Radu; Basta (Patric 65'), Parolo, Leiva, Milinkovic-Savic, Lulic; Luis Alberto (Anderson 65'); Immobile (Caicedo 85')
RED BULL SALZBURG (4-4-2): Walke; Lainer, Andre Ramalho, Caleta-Car, Ulmer; Haidara (Wolf 81'), Samassekou, Schlager, Berisha; Gulbrandsen (Minamino 70'), Dabbur
Giuseppe Labellarte
