Relegation-threatened SPAL claim crucial win over Crotone

SPAL gave their Serie A survival hopes a massive boost with a 3-2 win at fellow relegation strugglers Crotone.

Mirco Antenucci gave the visitors the lead after 37 minutes and although Ante Budimir equalised early in the second period, Leonardo Semplici’s side were not about to be denied just their fourth win of the season.

Lorenco Simic restored SPAL’s lead just two minutes after the equaliser before Alberto Paloschi made it 3-1 on the hour mark, with Budimir’s second goal of the game in the 86th minute proving to be only a consolation.

A first win since December 17 leaves SPAL in the bottom three but takes them to within a point of their opponents.

However, they are also only a point ahead of Hellas Verona after they enjoyed a 2-1 win over Torino.

Mattia Valoti opened the scoring for the home side after 12 minutes and grabbed the winner on 77 minutes after M’Baye Niang had equalised early in the second half.

At the other end of the table, Lazio moved up into third – for a few hours at least – thanks to a 3-0 win at Sassuolo.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic opened the scoring after just seven minutes and grabbed his second just a minute after the interval, with Ciro Immobile having earlier made it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Both teams finished with 10 men after Domenico Berardi was sent off for two bookable offences and Adam Marusic was shown a straight red for violent conduct.

Elsewhere, Sampdoria’s Matias Silvestre scored at both ends as his side enjoyed a 2-1 win over Udinese.

Silvestre broke the deadlock 10 minutes before half-time and Duvan Zapata seemingly made the game safe in the closing stages, before Silvestre put through his own net in the fifth minute of added time.

One goal was enough to give Fiorentina all three points against Chievo, Cristiano Biraghi firing home from outside the area after just six minutes.