Lazio produced a five-star performance to sweep away sorry Monza aside 5-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
The hosts ensured maximum points with a Pedro brace, Adam Marusic, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Taty Castellanos, who scored his first Serie A home goal since September.
The Aquile dropped down to sixth place after Fiorentina won the rescheduled match against Inter. This means a victory was essential against rock-bottom Monza.
Samuel Pizzignacco got in front of a long-range Taty Castellanos strike around the upright while Bianco prevented Alessio Romagnoli from tapping in the Nuno Tavares pull-back.
Mattia Zaccagni’s free header went inches wide from the Gustav Isaksen cross, while Tomas Palacios threw himself in the path of Zaccagni to prevent a finish.
Lazio went in front as Castellanos knocked down the Matteo Guendouzi cross for a free Adam Marusic header from four yards.
Boulaye Dia got injured from a knock to the ankle before limping off. His replacement Pedro drilled inches wide on the stroke of half-time.
In the second half, Armando Izzo’s decisive flick prevented Castellanos from volleying in the Isaksen assist from six yards before Stefan Lekovic deflected the Nuno Tavares follow-up over.
They eventually made it two when Castellanos timed the through ball for Pedro to smash in at the near post.
They made it three moments with Castellanos’s first Serie A goal this season. The last time he scored at the Stadio Olimpico was September 2024, sweeping in the Zaccagni assist following a step-over.
After turning wide when clear on goal, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru scored the fourth as Tijjani Noslin pulled back from the by-line for the simple Pedro finish.
Monzgot one back late on when VAR spotted Manuel Lazzari jumping with an arm over his head, punching the cross away from Silvere Ganvoula. Stefano Sensi stepped up and converted the penalty, beating Ivan Provedel who got a hand to it.
Lazio quickly restored their four-goal cushion when Dele-Bashiru ran onto a through ball down and smashed a left-foot finish into the roof of the net from a tricky angle.
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