Lazio Beat Juventus 3-0 in Turin to Draw Level With Inter at Serie A Summit

Lazio beat Juventus 3-0 at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Sunday, October 18, to move level on points with Inter Milan at the top of Serie A. Lazio have 19 points after seven matches, and trail the defending champions only on goal difference.

The visitors took control in the first half. In the 37th minute, Danish centre-back Oliver Provstgaard, who is 1.93 metres tall, rose above the home defence to head a corner inside the far post. Juventus, coached by Luciano Spalletti, had not been able to find their rhythm and could not respond before half-time.

Lazio doubled their lead in the 66th minute. Winger Gustav Isaksen was faced by a backpedalling full-back, drifted inside and placed a curling, left-footed low shot inside the far post. The third goal came late. In the 89th minute, Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored on a counter-attack to complete the win.

The result gives Gennaro Gattuso's side six wins and one draw from their first seven league games. According to Italian news agency ANSA, it is the first time in the club's history that Lazio have won six of their first seven league matches. Their total of 19 points is also the highest they have collected after seven games, passing the 17 points won by Sven-Göran Eriksson's side at the start of the 1999-2000 season.

Gattuso said afterwards that Lazio might well be the surprise package of the league, but the team must not change its approach. He said they need to take each match as it comes and keep working hard.

For Juventus, it was another disappointing night. They are on 11 points in eighth place, eight points behind the leaders, and have won only one of their last five matches. It was a statement win for Lazio, who had also beaten Monza 3-1 at home earlier this month.