Lazio back to winning ways

Lazio earned three points keeping them just four points shy of leaders Juventus [EPA]

Lazio captain Tommaso Rocchi scored twice as the Roman club snapped a month long winless streak with a spirited 3-0 victory over newly promoted Novara in the Italian league on Monday.

Remaining in fourth place, Lazio moved within four points of Serie A leader Juventus and two points of AC Milan and Udinese.

Defender Giuseppe Biava put Lazio ahead with a header off a corner in the 16th minute at the mostly empty Stadio Olimpico.

Rocchi doubled the lead seven minutes later with another header following a free kick, then sealed the victory with a volley from the edge of the box in the 72nd.

Poor form

Lazio have failed to score in their past three matches – a 0-0 draw with Napoli, a 1-0 loss to Juventus and a 0-0 draw with Romanian side Vaslui in the Europa League last week.

Lazio last won previously on November 6, beating Parma 1-0 to move level at the time with Udinese for the league lead.

Novara, playing in the top division for the first time in 55 years, remained third from the bottom in the relegation zone.

Miroslav Klose and Djibril Cisse also had chances for Lazio as the hosts dominated the entire match.

Klose hit the side of the net after dribbling by the goalkeeper in the 53rd and Cisse hit the post in the 86th.

The newly signed Klose and Cisse have been the standouts for Lazio lately, but Rocchi’s performance this night outshined them both and brought back memories of when he scored 77 goals in the past seven seasons.