Torino eased their relegation worries in Serie A with a composed 2-0 victory over Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino, handing new head coach Roberto D’Aversa a winning start and moving six points clear of the drop zone.

A tense and cagey opening 20 minutes offered little in the way of goalmouth action, but it was the hosts who seized control when the breakthrough finally arrived. Giovanni Simeone reacted quickest inside the six-yard box, prodding the ball goalwards and just beyond the desperate clearance attempt of Oliver Provstgaard.

Buoyed by the opener, Torino pushed for a second and nearly found it moments later through Simeone again. The Argentine striker unleashed a powerful effort that forced a sharp save from Ivan Provedel, who managed to palm the ball to safety.

Lazio, by contrast, offered minimal attacking threat before the break. Their most promising opportunity came in the 37th minute when Reda Belahyane struck fiercely towards goal, only to see his effort blocked just yards from the line as Torino preserved their advantage.

The Granata resumed after the interval with purpose and were rewarded in the 53rd minute. A pinpoint delivery from Rafa Obrador on the left flank found Duvan Zapata in space, and the Colombian powered a clinical header beyond Provedel to double the lead and ignite the home crowd.

From that point on, the contest settled into a largely controlled affair, with Torino rarely looking troubled. Their defensive solidity was epitomised by Enzo Ebosse, whose superb block denied Lazio a clear sight of goal during one of their rare second-half openings.

The visitors’ struggles in front of goal away from home were once again evident. Maurizio Sarri’s side have found the net just eight times in 14 league matches on the road this season, a statistic that underlines their lack of cutting edge in the final third.

As time ticked away, Alberto Paleari ensured there would be no late twist, producing an excellent save to deny Alessio Romagnoli and preserve Torino’s clean sheet.

The victory ends a four-match winless run in all competitions for Torino and lifts them to 14th in the Serie A standings. Lazio remain 10th and must quickly turn their attention to the Coppa Italia, where they host Atalanta BC in the first leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.