Lazio Vs Lecce Highlights, Serie A: LAZ 0-1 LEC; Biancocelesti Miss Out On Champions League Qualification

Greetings and a warm welcome to all. We will bring to you the build-up as well as live updates from this crucial matchday 38 fixture between Lazio and Lecce, so stay with us.

Here is how Lazio and Lecce line up ahead of kick-off in Rome:

The match will kick off at 12:15am IST. The Serie A matchday 38 clash between Lazio and Lecce will be live streamed on the GXR app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

The game between Lazio and Lecce is one of six that will concurrently be played across Italy to conclude the Serie A 2024-25 season. Juventus and Roma's face-offs against Venezia and Torino will be of prime interest to Lazio in their quest for a Champions League berth. For live updates on the rest of the top-flight games, head over HERE to our matchday 38 blog.

Play gets underway at the Stadio Olimpico. Lecce create a couple of early chances via headers off a free-kick and a corner. Lazio survive, and look to turn the tide. Meanwhile, Venezia have already opened the scoring against Juventus, which must come as good news for both Lazio and Roma.

While the Lazio vs Lecce clash is goalless after 26 minutes, Roma have scored via an 18th-minute penalty against Torino. That, coupled with Venezia's early goal against Juventus means Roma are the frontrunners for the fourth Champions League spot as of now. Things could change very quickly depending on who scores when, and we will bring to you the scenarios live.

While we still await the opening goal in this clash, Juventus have entirely turned the tables on Roma. They score twice in six minutes to go from 0-1 down to 2-1 up against Venezia, which means the Old Lady return to ascendancy in the fight for the fourth Champions League spot. Remember that Lazio can only qualify if they win and both Roma, Juventus drop points.

Lecce compound Lazio's woes with a 43rd-minute goal. Nikola Krstovic lines it up for Lassana Coulibaly to finish and put the visitors ahead 1-0 at the stroke of half-time. The scoreline stays like that, going into the mid-game interval and Lazio are now on the verge of missing out on a Champions League berth.

Play resumes in Rome. Lazio have their backs against the wall and must score at least two goals, if they are to have any chance at all of qualifying for Europe. For that to happen, they'll need help from Roma and Juventus, who are both leading in their respective games.

Lazio are unable to exert the advantage of an additional player on the field, considering Lecce's Argentine winger Santiago Pierotti was sent off after a second yellow card in the stoppage time of the first half. Meanwhile, the see-saw battle for Champions League has now swung Roma's way with Venezia drawing level 2-2 against Juventus and Roma leading Torino 2-0.

Lazio's Champions League prospects are fading away as time goes on. Both Juventus and Roma are in winning positions in their respective games currently, and if any one of them do hold on to their lead, Lazio will not finish in the top four. But even for that hypothetical to come in effect, Lazio need to win their own game, which is looking like a tall order currently as they trail 0-1 with eight minutes left on the clock.

That's it. The final whistle is blown and Lazio go down to 10-man Lecce 0-1 at home. The uninspiring result means that the Biancocelesti fall well short of the fourth Champions League spot from Italy, which goes to Juventus. They finish seventh with 65 points and will play in the Conference League next season.

The Serie A 2024-25 season has now officially drawn to a close. Napoli had already been declared winners earlier, and today's games have ascertained the top six for next season's European qualification.

Up next is the Champions League final on June 1 between Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, which will be followed by the FIFA Club World Club from 15 June to 13 July. The next Italian league season starts on August 23.