EUROPA LEAGUE | STURM GRAZ 0-0 LAZIO: BLANKS FIRED IN AUSTRIA IN STALEMATE

Lazio had several chances, and just as many scares at the other end, including a disallowed Ciro Immobile goal, but only managed a point away to 10-man Sturm Graz. The Biancocelesti had a point to prove after their 5-1 defeat to Midtjylland, a huge blip in a run of three consecutive Serie A victories and with a 4-2 opening win over Feyenoord, which left this group totally even on three points apiece. Maurizio Sarri kept squad rotation to a minimum, resting only Patric, Manuel Lazzari and Mattia Zaccagni.

There was a huge scare after three minutes when Ivan Provedel flapped at a free kick and Elseid Hysaj had to clear Amadou Dante’s attempt off the line. Ciro Immobile ran onto a Luis Alberto through ball, but tried to return the pass rather than go clear on goal himself and allowed Dante to make a fantastic last-ditch block. However, Provedel parried both a William Boving effort from the edge of the box and Albian Ajeti’s glancing header on the resulting corner, but the goalkeeper gave it away cheaply and was fortunate Tomi Horvat fired over.

Immobile turned over under pressure following Pedro’s parried cross-shot and a Luis Alberto back-heel flick, while Jon Stankovic stung Provedel’s gloves. After the restart, Provedel slapped a Boving cross-shot out from under the bar from the tightest of angles. There was a double save on Mattia Zaccagni and Pedro, but the Spaniard was Offside. Immobile attempted a dinked finish from the by-line, but the goalkeeper managed to get something on it, then the striker only grazed his head to Zaccagni’s cross.

Immobile had the ball in the net on 80 minutes, only for it to be ruled offside by a matter of inches using VAR. Moments later, Sturm Graz went down to 10 men, as Jusuf Gazibegovic was already on a yellow card when hacking down Zaccagni.