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Reggina were relegated from Serie A with a game to go when they lost 1-0 to Lazio at Stadio Olimpico thanks to a first-half Mauro Zarate goal.

Reggina, 19th, have 30 points and cannot catch fourth-bottom Torino, who are four points ahead and have two matches left to play.

Argentine forward Zarate latched on to Ousmane Dabo's threaded pass and poked home a right-foot shot in the 26th minute for mid-table Lazio, who qualified for next season's Europa League by winning the Coppa Italia for the fifth time.

The visitors from the southern city of Reggio Calabria had given themselves hope of escaping from a desperate position with strong form in recent weeks but they went down surprisingly quietly after Zarate scored.

Franco Brienza wasted their best chance to equalise in the 37th, dragging the ball too wide in a one-on-one with Juan Pablo Carrizo to give the keeper and defence time to get back.

Carrizo also saved well from Brienza in the closing stages.

The match was brought forward from the rest of Sunday's Serie A programme to give UEFA time to prepare the Stadio Olimpico for next week's Champions League final.

It is a rare move as Serie A matches on the penultimate weekend of the season are supposed to be played at the same time so teams do not gain an advantage from knowing other scores.

Reuters