You could not have written a better script for Lazio this weekend if you tried, as Saturday turned out to be an ideal day for the Biancocelesti.

With two second-half goals in the span of two minutes, they secured a crucial 2-1 comeback victory over Catania at the Stadio Olimpico, while they were also greeted by the news of losses for fellow European hopefuls Inter, Roma and Fiorentina.

The results see the capital-based club move up to fifth in the Serie A table with 50 points, as they currently occupy the final European berth in the division – three points ahead of Roma and Inter.

“Certainly today’s victory was deserved as we really wanted it,” Lazio bench boss Vladimir Petkovic told Sky Sport.

Lazio came into the contest in desperate need of a positive result, having won just one of their previous eight matches – that being a 2-0 victory over lowly Pescara back in late February.

Their poor run of form – coupled with the meteoric rise of Milan – saw the Biancocelesti not only drop out of the top three in the league, but also had them fighting just to cement a place in next season’s Europa League.

In fact, a loss on Saturday would have seen Vladimir Petkovic and his men fall behind their opponents, who have been in fine form since the turn of the calendar.

Always providing a tricky away fixture, the Elefanti have proven themselves to be much more this season, and still sit only five points back of a European place despite the loss.

The opening 45 minutes saw little in the way of clear-cut chances, aside from one glaring miss from Lazio debutant Louis Saha, who found himself in the starting eleven for the first time since his January transfer to the Italian capital.

A scramble inside the Catania penalty area saw the ball deflect off a defender and right to the French striker, but with goalkeeper Mariano Andujar at his mercy he could only manage to drag the ball across the goal and harmlessly wide.

For all of their dominance in the opening half, Lazio found themselves behind as the visitors struck early in the second half.

Stefan Radu saw his attempted clearance smack the shins of Mariano Izco and loop high over the head of Federico Marchetti and into the Lazio goal. The Italian international had barely touched the ball all game, and was now forced to pick it out of his net.

Match LineUps
Lazio: Marchetti; Biava, Radu, Cana, González; Ledesma; Hernanes (subbed 76′ Klose), Candreva, Lulić, Onazi (subd 63′ Ederson); Saha (subd 63′ Kozak)

Catania: Andújar; Marchese, Legrottaglie, Bellusci, Álvarez, Biagianti (sub’d 86′ Doukara ), Lodi, Izco, Bergessio, Gómez (sub’d 78′ Castro), Barrientos