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Razvan Marin’s last-minute strike helped Empoli to a dramatic 2-2 draw at Lazio on Sunday, with Tuscany a point after trailing by two goals with seven minutes remaining.
Romanian midfielder Marin equalized in the fourth minute of stoppage time to beat Lazio, who were just three points clear of fifth place in the Champions League table after losing their lead for the second time in a week.
Lazio looked set for an easy win eight minutes after half-time after a superb strike from Mattia Zaccagni and a header from Felipe Anderson in the second minute.
Lazio played without the concentrated support of their die-hard fans after the Curva Nord section of the Stadio Olimpico was closed as punishment for racist chants directed at Samuel Umtiti during Wednesday’s loss to Lecce.
Maurizio Sarri’s side didn’t look like they needed much of their backing for 13th-placed Empoli until Francisco Caputo pulled one back in professional fashion in a superb effort at Marin Let the visiting team get a valuable point.
“I’m happy like a child. This game showed that we are a good team and can play against anyone,” said striker Caputo, 35, who returned to Empoli on loan from Sampdoria on Monday.
Italy international Caputo made a name for himself at Empoli in his early 30s and is delighted to be back.
“I really like the team, the club and the city,” he added.
“Coming here is something I wanted to do at all costs, and I did… When two people are working hard for a marriage, things always work out.”
Empoli are a point ahead of Monza and Salernitana after a 1-1 home draw with Torino in the opening game of the day.
– Samp honor Vialli, Mihajlovic –
Later on Sunday, Napoli will be looking for a seven-point lead in Serie A at Sampdoria, who will pay their respects to their late greats Sinisa Mihajlovic and Gianluca Via. Lee salutes.
Napoli are behind Juventus, who beat Udinese on Saturday, and AC Milan, who are third on five points ahead of Sunday night’s home game with Roma.
After Vialli, 58, lost his long battle with pancreatic cancer on Friday, Sampdoria will wear a jersey bearing the names of two former players at the Ferrari Stadium.
Sunday’s game was their first home game since Mihajlovic, who played for Sampdoria in the mid-1990s and later managed the club, died of leukemia last month.
Vialli was one of Sampdoria’s best ever players, winning the club’s only league title in 1991 and since his death fans have worshiped at the gates of the Luigi Ferraris Stadium Vialli.
Samp’s players warmed up in jerseys with Vialli’s number 9 on them, as fans in the stands chanted his name and waved banners in his tribute.
Napoli fans clashed with Roma supporters at a service station, disrupting the build-up as fans from both sides headed north for the match, reportedly creating a 13-kilometre queue on the A1 motorway linking Milan to Naples.
Samp kicked off the 2023 season with a win at Sassuolo on Wednesday but are currently 18th, six points behind outside the relegation zone Spezia, who drew 0-0 with Lecce in hot and humid conditions.
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