Lazio take Serie A lead with Juve idle due to virus

ROME (AP):

Juventus lost their grip on first place in Serie A to Lazio yesterday and the eight-time defending champions will have to wait more than a week – possibly even longer – to try and get it back.

That’s because five Italian league games scheduled for this weekend – including Juventus’ highly awaited match against third-place Inter Milan – were postponed in an attempt to contain the spread of a virus outbreak.

The fixtures were originally due to be played without fans, but the decision to call them off was taken yesterday by the league as part of “urgent measures for the containment and management” of the COVID-19 disease.

However, with the coronavirus outbreak worst in northern Italy, Lazio were permitted to play their match against Bologna in Rome and won 2-0 with their fans in attendance.

Lazio moved two points ahead of idle Juventus and eight ahead of Inter, who also had a game postponed last weekend.

Juventus’ next game is at Bologna on March 8 – and there are concerns that this match and other games next weekend could be postponed, too, if the government decides to extend emergency anti-virus measures for another week.

At the Stadio Olimpico, many fans wore masks as Lazio extended their unbeaten run to 21 games.

Luis Alberto scored one goal and set up another while playing through an apparent injury that left him limping.

Bologna had two goals disallowed following VAR checks.

Only two matches will be played Sunday: Lecce-Atalanta and Cagliari-Roma.