Tommaso Rocchi ensured Lazio got their Serie A campaign off to a winning start against Atalanta at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Italian striker netted the only goal after 22 minutes against a team that made the hosts sweat for the victory.
New Lazio coach Davide Ballardini opted to play with trio Rocchi, Pasquale Foggia and Mauro Zarate up front.
The hosts went into the game in buoyant mood, having lifted the Italian SuperCup trophy earlier this month after a 2-1 triumph over Inter Milan.
Atalanta were unlucky not to come away with a point after having plenty of opportunities to level the score.
Indeed, the performance of Lazio goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was pivotal with the experienced stopper making several important saves to maintain Lazio's lead.
The Romans controlled the opening minutes of the game and should have taken an early advantage when Zarate served an unmarked Rocchi inside the area, only for the Italy international to fire into to the stands.
Atalanta replied soon after, with summer reinforcement Robert Acquafresca intercepting a back-pass from Cristian Brocchi towards Muslera but his finish was off target, much to the relief of the home fans.
Edgar Barretto then tried his luck from the distance but his effort went wide.
Lazio broke the deadlock midway through the first half when Foggia´s pass towards the area was poorly cleared by Atalanta´s defence and fell to Rocchi, who fired into the back of the net.
The goal did not demoralise Atalanta as they continued to attack in the hope of finding the equaliser.
Barretto´s powerful left-footed strike forced Muslera to dive to his right to make the block.
The Biancoceleste could have gone into the interval with a 2-0 advantage when Aleksandar Kolarov surged inside the area and fired a diagonal shot that went just wide of Atalanta goalkeeper Andrea Consigli's far post.
The visitors picked up the tempo after the interval with Tiberio Guarente warming the hands of Muslera with a long-range strike.
At the other end, Consigli had to came off his line to clear Roberto Baronio´s free-kick towards Stephan Lichtsteiner.
On 54 minutes, Acquafresca should have equalised but fired wide from close-range following Gyorgy Garics´ assist.
Shortly after the hour mark, Zatate´s stinging drive went inches wide of the near post.
With 15 minutes remaining, Rocchi came close to scoring his second of the evening but his right-footed strike from the edge of the area was saved by Consigli.
Atalanta players demanded a penalty when Tiribocchi fell inside the area after contact with Lazio defender Cribari but the referee waved play on.
The visitors didn´t give up and Tiribocchi tried his luck from distance only for his effort to be saved by Muslera.
The Lazio keeper was, however, almost stunned in injury time when Guarante´s cross took a deflection and went just over the crossbar.
The Bergamaschi could still have claimed a point had Padoin's 30-yard strike not gone wide with Muslera already beaten.
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