Chievo have taken another precious point off a side fighting for the top four, as Ciro Immobile had to cancel out the Sergio Pellissier opener.
With this result and Milan's 2-1 win over Parma, Simone Inzaghi's men are bumped down to fifth place.
Lazio missed Luis Alberto and Lucas Leiva, so Joaquin Correa and Milan Badelj got the nod. Mimmo Di Carlo was Chievo’s third Coach of the season and held Napoli to a goalless draw on his debut last week, but had to do without Nenad Tomovic, Pawel Jaroszynski and Manuel Pucciarelli.
Veteran Sergio Pellissier almost put the hosts in front after 90 seconds on the counter from a corner, but turned Joel Obi’s assist over under pressure from Thomas Strakosha.
The tempo was very slow and Badelj tested Stefano Sorrentino from distance, but Wallace had to intercept a dangerous Perparim Hetemaj roll across that would’ve sent Pellissier clear on goal.
They didn’t heed the warning, because Chievo took the lead with a classic counter-attack. Walter Birsa timed the through ball perfectly and Pellissier kept his cool to draw Strakosha out and fire it over him at the near post. The Flying Donkeys icon is 39 years and eight months old, but that was his second Serie A goal in only seven appearances this season.
Lazio struggled to react, as Wallace was very nearly robbed on the edge of his own penalty area, then at the other end Correa turned a free header wide from Marco Parolo’s cross.
Parolo was the most impressive Aquile player and blasted just over, but Chievo were largely untroubled. Stefano Sorrentino’s only really tough save was on the stroke of half-time on a volley with Ciro Immobile offside.
Simone Inzaghi introduced Felipe Caicedo for the second half, moving to four at the back. Lazio stepped up the tempo and Sorrentino performed a great save to deny Immobile after Correa dribbled away from Fabio Depaoli, then Senad Lulic’s volley from a deflected cross was charged down by Mattia Bani.
The pressure eventually paid off, as Immobile and Correa had a double give-and-go for the centre-forward to smash a right-foot finish into the near bottom corner from 12 yards.
Francesco Acerbi needed a decisive interception moments later to stop Birsa rolling across and sending Pellissier clear on goal again.
Immobile was unlucky not to turn it around and complete his brace on 76 minutes, the angled drive smacking against the inside of the far post.
Badelj’s first-time strike swung inches past the post with Sorrentino rooted to the spot, but Chievo had a very late rally too. Patric had to clear practically off the line to stop Pellissier turning in a solo run from Sofiane Kiyine in the final minute.