Lazio have maintained their challenge for a place in Europe by beating Udinese 1-0 at the Stadio Friuli this afternoon.

Antonio Di Natale threatened in the opening minutes with a curling free kick that Federico Marchetti had to tip over the bar.

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Lazio were then given the chance to take the lead midway through the first half when Molla Wague gave away a spot kick for a foul on Miroslav Klose.

Antonio Candreva stepped up to take the resulting penalty and made no mistake with a confident chip down the middle past Orestis Karnezis.

The visitors had a huge chance to double their advantage early in the second half, but, after Candreva saw his shot saved by the keeper, Felipe Anderson blazed the rebound high over the bar.

Udinese pushed for a response and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu saw his header saved by Marchetti.

Badu had another effort on goal minutes later, but his strike from the edge of the box was once again stopped by the keeper.

Despite a late spell of pressure from the hosts, they were unable to mount a comeback as Lazio held on to move back into the Serie A top five.