Stefano Mauri bagged a brace as Lazio moved third in the table by beating Atalanta 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico tonight.

The captain struck two second-half goals, before Senad Lulic added a third as Stefano Pioli's side move into the Champions League qualification places in Serie A.

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The Biancocelesti came into this match on the back of two successive wins in all competitions, but they found themselves frustrated early on.

Dusan Basta and Felipe Anderson had the bulk of the first-half chances, with both efforts sailing wide of Marco Sportiello's post.

The breakthrough came on 51 minutes when Mauri stretched to poke Anderson's low cross into the net, and came within inches of his double moments later by firing wide of the post.

Anderson was proving problematic for the visiting defence, and the Brazilian almost doubled Lazio's lead, with Sportiello tipping his low effort just wide of the mark.

The elusive second goal came on 72 minutes, however, as Mauri found himself with plenty of space in the box before bending a precise shot beyond the reach of Sportiello with his left foot.

With Atalanta offering little to no attacking threat, two goals could have been enough for Lazio, but the hosts consolidated the result when Lulic headed home a Basta cross with 10 minutes remaining.