| Lazio lost their unbeaten record in the Champions League as a poor defensive display saw them fall 2-1 at Werder Bremen.
The Biancocelesti were still unbeaten in the competition and hoped to take advantage of Werder Bremen's run of two straight defeats. Stefano Mauri and Sebastiano Siviglia joined the injury list along with Cristian Ledesma, Mobido Diakhite' and Emilson Cribari, so Mourad Meghni was given a rare start in midfield.
The young Frenchman sparked a classic counter-attack with Tommaso Rocchi flagged just offside, while Tim Borowski smacked a long-range effort over and Naldo's header was off target.
There was a major scare for the Biancocelesti after 14 minutes when his appalling clearance fell to Hugo Almeida, but incredibly the Bremen striker failed to make the most of this gift.
Christian Manfredini got a glancing touch to a taut Aleksander Kolarov free kick and Tim Wiese struggled to get it under control. The goalkeeper also seemed surprised by a rocket of a Kolarov set-piece moments later, pushing it out for a corner, while the young Serb full-back had another effort from 35 metres.
Diego's set-piece skimmed the crossbar and Ballotta blocked his counter, then Lazio's offside trap failed again as Diego missed the target for Bremen.
Werder had been increasing the pressure on a shaky Biancocelesti defence and broke through on 28 minutes. Diego lifted the ball for Boubacar Sanogo to chest down, dribble past Ballotta and squeeze the finish in from a tight angle. Valon Behrami attempted a goalline clearance, but it went through his legs.
On the stroke of half-time Ballotta was called into action by Sanogo and again with a spectacular point-blank save on Clemens Fritz to keep Lazio in it.
After the break Simone Del Nero replaced Meghni, but Werder Bremen doubled their advantage on 54 minutes. Once again the offside trap failed miserably, as Sanogo missed the Fritz cross and accidentally found Hugo Almeida at the other end.
Torsten Frings managed to close down Pandev's solo run in the box, then later on Wiese's unorthodox save pushed out another effort from the Macedonian, who made way for Stephen Makinwa.
Massimo Mutarelli and the impressive Diego both skimmed the woodwork, but Borowski dribbled round Ballotta and Behrami was this time able to recover for a goalline clearance.
Kolarov was halted for an incorrect offside flag, but Manfredini gave the visitors some hope eight minutes from time. Wiese only parried another Kolarov screamer into the path of the former Chievo midfielder to make it 2-1 in a game that had seemed to be over.
Igli Tare was incorrectly flagged offside from Mutarelli's assist and Almeida hit the back of the net, but he too was offside.
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