The final game of the 18th round of fixtures in Serie A took place at the Stadio Olimpico this evening as Lazio, under returning coach Edoardo Reja, hosted Inter Milan.
Reja guided the home side to victory as Miroslav Klose won the game late on with a classy volley.
Read how it all unfolded in Rome with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Evening folks! The last of seven Serie A matches today is probably the highlight as Lazio host Inter Milan. Kickoff in 30 minutes in the capital. Here comes the team news...
LAZIO XI: Berisha; Konko, Biava, Dias, Radu; Candreva, Gonzalez, Ledesma, Hernanes, Lulic; Klose
INTER XI: Handanovic; Ranocchia, Rolando, Juan Jesus; Jonathan, Alvarez, Cambiasso, Kuzmanovic, Nagatomo; Guarin; Palacio
Today's game is the first for these two sides since before Christmas because of Serie A's winter break. Lazio ended their 2013 with a heavy defeat at Hellas Verona while Inter's year ended on a huge high with victory over Milan rivals AC.
Click here to see the latest table ahead of this evening's match, which is the last of the 18th round of fixtures in Serie A. As mentioned above, Inter will climb above Verona in fifth with a win or draw while three points for will see them rise two places and above AC into 10th.
Lazio's decision to sack Vladimir Petkovic was a slightly odd one as they sacked him on Saturday after seemingly mulling over it over the festive period. Reja is now in charge and back at Lazio for a second spell after a first stint between 2010 and 2012.
Lazio vs Inter: The only team to be fouled fewer times than Inter (197) in Serie A this season is Lazio (193) #LazioInter — WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 6, 2014
PREDICTION TIME! Just 10 minutes until we get underway in Rome, where it's a fairly nice clear evening. I fancy a draw this evening, 1-1.
Lazio have won their last three home games against Inter in all competitions while the visitors are unbeaten in nine of their last 10 games.
If you quickly want to recap on the other Serie A results today, see them all here.
Here come the teams at the huge Stadio Olimpico. Both sides are in their home colours with Lazio in light blue and white while Inter wear their blue and black stripes.
It's a huge game today for Etrit Berisha, who is making his Serie A debut in goal for the hosts.
KICKOFF! Off we go in Rome as referee Antonio Damato blows his whistle for the first time.
Lazio have started well here and had the ball for the majority of the opening stages. Candreva just sent over a dangerous cross failed to pick out a light blue shirt in the middle.
Inter goalkeeper Handanovic claims Lulic's inventive outside-of-the-boot cross. Klose was lurking but couldn't get there first.
There's plenty of spare seats at the Stadio Olimpico but it's still a fantastic atmosphere. Still no goalmouth action as Inter start to see more of the ball.
The first shot of the game comes from Inter as Juan Jesus lets fly from 30 yards. It's well struck but always rising and Berisha watches it over the bar.
JUST WIDE! We're inches away from the opening goal as Jonathan and Ranocchia get confused in the Inter defence and allow Lulic in to lob Handanovic. The crowd think it's in but it bounces just wide of the upright.
LAZIO SUB: The home side are forced into an early substitution as right-back Abdoulay Konko is taken off on a stretcher and Luis Cavanda comes on.
Inter win the first corner of the game as Palacio reaches the ball on the left wing and hits it off Cavanda.
BOOKING! Andre Dias picks up the first booking of the game by bringing down Guarin on the break. The latter is perplexed by the referee's decision not to send off the Lazio man but for me a booking is the right call.
The resulting free kick from Alvarez gets up and over the wall but not back under the crossbar.
Moments before the Dias-Guarin incident, Candreva stole the ball from Juan but wasn't quite quick enough to run in on goal.
CHANCE! Lazio are awarded a dubious free kick as Guarin's flailing arm clips the face of Biava. Ledesma whips it in and Handanovic beats Klose to the ball. Lazio get the ball back though and Klose is closer (!) this time as his near post shot is well blocked by Handanovic after a cross from Candreva.
More iffy defending from Inter but Lazio can't take advantage as both Lulic and Candreva overhit crosses from either wing.
CHANCE! Ledesma pings the ball to the back post and Lulic, who picks out the onrushing Hernanes with his header back. It's a tough chance for the Brazilian but he makes poor contact on the volley.
SAVE! Candreva has seen plenty of the ball and this time tests Handanovic with a vicious drive from the right.
BOOKINGS! Handbags at the Stadio Olimpico as Guarin is booked for a foul on Lulic before squaring up to a number of Lazio players. Radu is also booked but in all honesty Guarin is hugely fortunate not to be sent off for his actions after the initial yellow was shown to him.
Those bookings mean that both Guarin and Radu will miss their next Serie A match.
BOOKING! Alvarez is the next to be booked for what looked like a good tackle. Referee Damato being a little card-happy at the moment.
And now Guarin commits another foul. One more and he has to go surely?
As we approach half time, Ledesma is almost dispossessed while the last man but escapes thanks to the referee's whistle.
Now a nervy moment for Inter as Handanovic and Jonathan mess around with the ball and Candreva almost nicks it. Two minutes added on at the end of the first half.
Inter come forward for the last attack of the half but the chance goes as Palacio carelessly overruns the ball. That should be that.
HALF TIME: LAZIO 0-0 INTER
No goals at the break then but it's been an intriguing game of football. Lazio have looked the more threatening of the two teams but they haven't been able to find a way through.
Inter have, however, had more of the ball with 56% possession. Both sides have had four shots but Inter haven't got any of theirs on target so Serie A debutant Berisha is yet to be tested.
Just looking at replays of the Guarin handbag incident. The Colombian produces an awful dive to try to get a Lazio player sent off. Shocking from the reported Chelsea target, who has been whining all game long.
Some huge news just coming out of the Premier League as Arsenal's Theo Walcott is ruled out for at least six months with an ACL injury. He'll miss the rest of the season and the World Cup. Read more here.
Here come Lazio and Inter for the second half. Will will see any goals in the second period?
KICKOFF! The visitors get the second half underway.
Candreva has been Inter's biggest threat going forward but he's just shown that he can be a big help at the back too by intercepting Cambiasso's pass before juggling the ball and volleying away.
Almost for Inter, who are starting to turn up the pressure a little bit. Guarin fed it through for Palacio and the Argentinian almost got away a shot but was tackled by Biava.
Guarin tries his luck from 30 yards and skies it well over the bar. The Colombian not having a great day at the office so far.
INTER SUB: Mazzarri makes his first substitution by bringing on Mateo Kovacic for Kuzmanovic on the left.
SAVE! Inter's best chance of the match as right wing-back Jonathan crosses for left wing-back Nagatomo, who has a free header but powers it straight at Berisha, who parries the ball up into the air before catching it at the second attempt.
LAZIO SUB: Midfielder Ogenyi Onazi on for Alvaro Gonzalez. That's the hosts' second change remember as Konko had to go off in the first half.
Classy stuff from Hernanes as his quick feet takes him past two Inter players before he picks out Candreva on the right. This time the latter's touch lets him down and Juan is able to nick the ball from him.
Mazzarri's next change will see Argentinian forward Diego Milito come on. Will he be able to make the difference in attack for the visitors?
CLOSE! German striker Klose is so close to getting on the end of Candreva's cross but it's just too far ahead of him.
INTER SUB: Milito is finally ready to come on and he takes the place of Guarin, who has been in a bad mood all game and lucky not to have been sent off.
Not long left of this one now and neither side looks particularly keen and really going for the three points. Lazio were the better side in the first period but Inter have probably edged the second half so far.
GOAL! LAZIO 1-0 INTER (KLOSE)
The home side make the breakthrough and it's a lovely finish from the German veteran. It had to be Candreva who set it up as well. He crossed from the right and Klose got in front of Ranocchia to volley past Handanovic.
INTER SUB: Odd substitution from Mazzarri as he brings on Argentian veteran Javier Zanetti in place of Ranocchia.
Cavanda loses possession to Alvarez but the Inter man fails to take advantage by taking a very heavy touch. Poor.
BOOKING! After four yellow cards in the first half, Ledesma picks up the first of the second for blocking Nagatomo.
LAZIO SUB: Final change from Reja as he brings off Candreva (the clear man of the match in my opinion) for Honorato Ederson.
Berisha produces an awful clearance to gift Inter the ball but the visitors fail to make the most of their numerical advantage around the area as Lazio survive.
THREE minutes of time added on for Inter to snatch a leveller.
FULL TIME: LAZIO 1-0 INTER
Edoardo Reja guides Lazio to three points in his first game back in charge of Lazio, with Miroslav Klose scoring the crucial goal. The German had a great chance right at the end to make it two but was denied by a last-ditch tackle.
Three points lifts Lazio into the top half where they are four places and eight points behind Inter, who remain sixth and now 18 points adrift of runaway leaders Juventus.
Inter will look to bounce back when they host Chievo in a week while Reja can make it two wins out of two at Bologna on Saturday night.
Before we say goodbye, I'll leave you with our match report. I recommend that you now follow this link for the final stages of Real Madrid and Celta Vigo in La Liga. Good night!
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
