Lazio and Atalanta BC have played out a goalless first half in their Serie A match this afternoon.

Keita Balde Diao threated in the opening moments with a low strike from range that forced Marco Sportiello into a save.

The Lazio striker came close again minutes later with a curling strike from the edge of the box that crashed against the post.

It was the visitors who were next to come close as Giulio Migliaccio saw his header from Marco D'Alessandro's corner saved by Federico Marchetti.

Marchetti was soon called into action again when he was forced to tip Mauricio Pinilla's near-post flick over the bar.

At the other end of the pitch, Keita was causing the Atalanta defence a number of problems and, after latching onto a low cross from Felipe Anderson, he saw his close-range strike palmed away by the keeper.

With two minutes of the first half remaining, the hosts almost broke the deadlock when Alejandro Gomez fired in a powerful effort that was beaten away by Marchetti.