Today’s big match in Group C of the Primavera championship ended all square as the Viola Under-19s came away from group leaders Lazio with a creditable point. Congolese midfielder Andy Bangu converted from the spot midway through the second period to cancel out Lombardi’s first-half opener.

The result leaves things unchanged at the top of the table: Fiorentina (57) remain a point behind Lazio (58) and hold a seven-point lead over third-placed Roma with three games to go. First and second qualify automatically for the end-of-season Final Eight.

Fiorentina and Lazio will go head to head once again on Wednesday in the second leg of the Primavera Coppa Italia at the Stadio Franchi, when Leonardo Semplici’s youngsters will bid to overturn the 3-1 deficit from the first leg.