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Lazio ran riot with a 4-0 demolition of Levski Sofia in Bulgaria, as Mauro Zarate and Tommaso Rocchi were among the scorers.
The Biancocelesti had hit something of a brick wall after a very strong start, which included throwing away a lead to lose 2-1 at home to Salzburg in the opening Europa League round. Julio Cruz, Sebastiano Siviglia, Fabio Firmani, Mobido Diakhite', Cristian Brocchi and Lionel Scaloni were sidelined, so two youth team players were in the starting XI.
Mourad Meghni was surprisingly fielded out wide right in a 4-4-2 system rather than his usual trequartista role. Roberto Baronio was an injury doubt for the game, but his free kick prompted the first save.
Tommaso Rocchi also tested Dimitrov at the near post after a Perpetuini through ball, but at the other end Tasevski wasted a chance created by Francelino Matuzalem's mistake.
The deadlock was broken after 23 minutes in Bulgaria when Zarate won back the ball in midfield and sparked a counter, finalised by Matuzalem's angled drive.
Moments later Zarate's snapshot was fingertipped on to the upright, as Lazio went so close to a second.
However, goalkeeper Albano Bizzarri needed to be alert when parrying Hristov's header from a Joaozinho free kick. Fortunately for the visitors, Rabeh was offside for the rebound.
Matuzalem turned another counter-attack just over the bar after good work from Zarate and Eliseu.
On the stroke of half-time, Lazio got their deserved second in Sofia. This time Rocchi sparked the counter and pulled back from the byline for Zarate to volley home.
Straight after the restart Levski threatened, as first Bizzarri beat away Hristov's strike, then Stefan Radu deflected the Joaozinho follow-up off target.
Bardon exchanged passes with Tabokov only to drill past the post of an open goal, while Hristov wasted a golden opportunity with a fresh air effort from the penalty spot.
Pasquale Foggia replaced Zarate to make more of the counter-attacking opportunities and it proved an inspired substitution. Within five minutes of coming off the bench, Foggia had placed an inspired ball over the top for Meghni to fire past Dimitrov.
Foggia was on fire and his sensational left-foot screamer from all of 40 yards was flying into the top corner before Dimitrov's fingertip save.
Rocchi made it 4-0 in Sofia for a marvellous Lazio performance. Once again Foggia was involved, his through ball - and Rabeh's slip - sending Rocchi clear on goal to dribble round the 'keeper.
Substitute Yoyov horribly wasted a consolation goal by shinning it from 10 yards. In the final moments Yoyov did get his effort on target, but Bizzarri brilliantly saved both that shot and Joaozinho's follow-up from point-blank range.
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