Lazio crash out in Rome

Nedved's fourth minute goal gave Lazio false hope

Lazio 2-2 Real Madrid

Lazio's European campaign ended in Rome when they were held to a 2-2 draw by European Cup holders Real Madrid.

The Italian champions twice took the lead at the Olympic Stadium only for the the Spanish giants to twice restore parity.

Raul's prolific striker Raul sealed Lazio's fate 17 minutes from time with the second equaliser.

The result keeps Real Madrid on top of Group D and means both they and Leeds are assured of a quarter-final place.

Electric start

AC Milan are now the only Italian side left in the competition.

Italian club AS Roma may feel under even more pressure as they seek to overturn a 2-0 deficit in Liverpool on Thursday night in order to survive in the Uefa Cup.

Lazio made an electric start and were ahead after just four minutes through Pavel Nedved, whose left-footed shot went through the legs of Fernando Hierro.

But Santiago Solari levelled the scores just after the half hour mark.

Lazio's defence were partly to blame as they appealed in vain for an offside decision to be given against the back-tracking Raul.

The referee decided he was not interfering with the action and waved play on, Solari finishing in style with a delicate chip over Angelo Peruzzi.

Argentinian striker Hernan Crespo put Lazio back in front eight minutes into the second period, stabbing home a loose ball, but any slender hopes of qualification for the quarter-finals was extinguished by Raul.

Substitute Pedro Munitis floated in a tantalising cross and Raul did well to direct his header into Peruzzi's right-hand corner.

Lazio gave it their all in a bid to find a third but the closest they came was when Portuguese defender Fernando Couto hit the bar.

---

Lazio: Peruzzi, Negro, Salas, Crespo, Mihajlovic, Simeone, Pancaro, Nedved, Favalli, Couto, Castroman. Subs: Marchegiani, Baronio, Pesaresi, Gottardi, Inzaghi, Ravanelli, Colonnese.

Real Madrid: Cesar Sanchez, Salgado, Carlos, Hierro, Helguera, Raul, Figo, Guti, Geremi, Solari, Makelele. Subs: Casillas, Sanchis, Savio, Munitis, Karanka, Celades, Rivera.

Referee: Manuel Melo Pereira (Portugal)