Lazio overcame a stubborn Werder Bremen defense to chalk up its first live Champions League victory of the campaign with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday.

Tommaso Rocchi made amends to a number of missed chances by giving Lazio the lead in the 57th minute before bagging a second goal 11 minutes later. Diego pulled one back for the visitors late in the game through a penalty kick as both the teams ended the match with ten men on the field.

Lazio started the game strongly and should have had taken an early lead in the 11th minute when Guglielmo Stendardo headed straight into the waiting hands of keeper Tim Wiese and later Zauri hit a weak shot towards the target that was comfortably saved by Wiese.

Mourad Meghni, Frank Baumann and Rocchi came very closing to breaking the deadlock but each time were unable to break past a solid Wiese who was looking in great form in the Werder Bremen goal. Lazio were given a golden opportunity 12 minutes into the second half when referee Ivan Bebek awarded them a penalty following a foul by Petri Pasanen on Meghni.

Though Wiese managed to block Rocchi's first attempt, the striker pounced on the rebound to put Lazio in the lead. The 30-year old doubled the lead in the 68th minute when he latched on to a brilliant cross by Meghni to smash the ball past a helpless Wiese.

Bremen were given a lifeline when Emilson Cribari was shown a red card four minutes before the final whistle and Diego got one back with two minutes remaining. However the midfielder himself was sent off in injury time for dissent as Lazio held on to a slender lead to grab their first victory in the competition since 2003.