Brazilian sensation Felipe Anderson hit a second-half brace as Lazio moved to within a point of second-placed city rivals Roma thanks to a 2-0 win away to Torino.
Roma host Sampdoria in Monday's late Serie A game looking for only their second win in 10 league games -- a run that has included a remarkable eight draws in nine successive outings.
Lazio have emerged as the form team in Italy's top flight of late and Stefano Pioli's men dealt well with the rainy conditions at Torino's Stadio Olimpico to come away with a precious three points as they bid for the league's second automatic Champions League qualifying place.
Anderson broke the deadlock in the 71st minute when he dinked the ball past Nikola Maksimovic and held it up well in front of Torino's central defenders to beat Daniele Padelli with a daisycutter from the edge of the area.
The 21-year-old midfielder grabbed his second seven minutes later, albeit in rather more fortuitous fashion when his angled strike to the right of Padelli's goal took a deflection before lobbing the 'keeper.
It took Anderson's tally to eight for the season and has embellished his reputation as one of the Biancocelesti's best finds of recent seasons having arrived from Brazilian side Santos in 2013.
Lazio's 15th win of the campaign also took them three points clear of rivals Napoli, who were stunned 2-0 at Verona on Sunday. Rafael Benitez's men remain fourth, 18 points behind leaders Juventus.
Elsewhere, AC Milan's hopes of holding on to Mattia Destro's 56th minute opener were ended by goals from Gonzalo Rodriguez and Joaquin in the final 10 minutes as Fiorentina fought back to grab a 2-1 win in Florence.
Fiorentina remain in fifth place but are now only a point behind Napoli.
Milan, now winless in their past three games, remain 10th, 29 points behind Juventus and 10 behind Fiorentina in the league's final Europa League qualifying place.
Source: AFP
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