Yugoslav international midfielder Vladimir Jugovic scored with a long-range shot to give Lazio a 1-0 victory away to Atletico Madrid in a UEFA Cup semi-final first leg last night.

The win extended the Rome club's unbeaten record to 24 matches stretching back to last November and they are now hot favourites to advance to the final.

Lazio scored in the 34th minute when Jugovic found the net with a right-foot shot from outside the penalty area after a clever build-up in which Croatian Alen Boksic provided the decisive pass.

The Italians, currently third in Serie A, were clearly the better side, and played with great discipline as they shut out the solo attacking threat of Atletico's Italian international striker Christian Vieri.

Lazio created the bulk of the chances, with Fuser firing narrowly off target after just 12 minutes.

Atletico's Romanian international Daniel Prodan was hurt after a heavy fall but the Spanish side came forward and a dangerous Jordi Lardin cross was just kept out by Luca Marchegiani in the Lazio goal.

Lazio should have scored after 26 minutes when Pavel Nedved was clear on goal, but the Czech international missed when it would have been easier to score.

The powerful and skilful Vieri was frequently caught offside but he managed to get in a shot on the turn after 52 minutes but the Lazio goalkeeper was up to the task.

Atletico kept coming forward in the final 30 minutes and Marchegiani did well to keep out a header from Vieri. Lazio, though, came closest to scoring again when Fuser's shot from a tight angle was stopped by Atletico goalkeeper Pedro Jaro.

Atletico Madrid: Molina; Frascarelli, Prodan, Denia, Aguilera; Vizcaino, Lardin, Pantic, Bejbl; Vieri, Caminero.

Lazio: Marchegiani; Favalli, Negro, Chamot, Grandoni; Nedved, Jugovic, Venturin, Fuser; Boksic, Mancini.