Novara’s Filippo Nardi, left, and Lazio’s Riza Durmisi vie for the ball during the Italian Cup soccer match between Lazio and Novara at the Olympic stadium in Rome, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. (AP Photo) Lazio eased into the Italian Cup quarterfinals with a crushing victory over third-division Novara on Saturday. Ciro Immobile scored twice as Lazio won 4-1 against one of the only two Serie C sides left. The other, Virtus Entella, also travels to the Italian capital, to play Roma on Monday.
Juventus, which has won the league and cup double for the past four seasons, visits Bologna later, while last year’s runner-up, AC Milan, plays at Sampdoria. Immobile set up Lazio’s first for Luis Alberto in the 12th minute and got on the scoresheet himself eight minutes later after Novara midfielder Ronaldo tripped Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in the penalty area.
Elia Benedettini saved Immobile’s spot kick but the Italy forward turned in the rebound. Immobile doubled his tally and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic added a fourth before halftime with a sensational free kick. Novara had a penalty of its own shortly after the break when Lazio defender Luiz Felipe handled the ball in the area. Umberto Eusepi converted.
