Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri defended their performance for Saturday's 0-0 draw with Atalanta.

Lazio went into the game big favourites given the absences in Atalanta's squad.

"Atalanta had some real problems, but we too were missing five players and another two returned to training yesterday after 10 days out. We basically were without seven players," Sarri told Sky Italia.

“I thought we were set out well tactically, but were lacking a bit of sharpness and especially in the second half the 120 minutes played in the Coppa Italia just three days ago did weigh on us.

“We did well attacking up to the final third, passing with quality, then in the area we needed a little more sharpness, that is where we came up short. Atalanta were missing a lot of important players, but had their best defenders and so focused entirely on neutralising us, doing very little upfront.

“We too are missing some important players and therefore had to use the same ones as in the Coppa three days ago.

“Mattia Zaccagni is having good games lately, Felipe Anderson sooner or later will give us a great performance, but we are missing Pedro at the moment."