Napoli jump to the top of the Serie A table thanks to a 2-1 win at Lazio Roma. A last-second goal from Fabian decided the game in Napoli’s favour after a late equaliser.
Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri made one change to his starting eleven after the 2-2 Europa League exit to Porto: Zaccagni started for Pedro, who was initially on the bench.
Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti made two changes to his starting line-up compared to the 4-2 defeat to FC Barcelona, which was also tantamount to Europa League elimination, with Elmas and Meret out and Politano and regular keeper Ospina starting.
Lazio miss the lead several times
The opening phase at the Olimpico clearly went to the Romans: Again and again they ran the visitors high and provoked mistakes in the build-up play. This was a problem for Napoli that had already led to dangerous scenes in the match against Barcelona. The Laziali also knew how to take advantage of these ball wins and had two great chances in the first minutes of the game through Luis Alberto (6th) and Immobile (9th), both of whom missed. Shortly afterwards, Felipe Anderson missed the next opportunity (13th), before Immobile’s second shot landed on the roof of the Napoli goal behind Ospina (21st).
The visitors initially struggled to present Ospina’s opposite number Strakosha with similar tasks. After an early attempt by Osimhen, who finished too unplaced (5th), Napoli’s best chance up to that point came from a long-range shot by Zielinksi, which Strakosha was able to parry safely (24th). There was nothing more from the third-placed team in the first half. Instead, Napoli’s best chance came just before half-time when Milinkovic-Savic missed another shot from an acute angle (41).
Insigne scores from nowhere and offside
In the second half, the first good opportunities belonged to the Romans. In the 52nd minute, Felipe Anderson tried to shoot from distance, before Immobile fired another shot three minutes later, which Ospina was able to save. After just over an hour, however, a mistake by the hosts in the build-up turned the previous course of the game on its head. Politano intercepted a hair-raising pass and played in Elmas, who immediately passed to Insigne and set up Insigne’s opening goal (62nd). But that was not all: just seven minutes later the little dribbler put the ball into the net again – but this time from an offside position.
Fabian counters Pedro’s dream goal
In the final stages of the game, the two teams were in an open exchange as they pushed for a decision or an equaliser. Politano first had the 2:0 on his foot and failed to beat Strakosha (80.), before Ospina only two minutes later fished a strong attempt by Pedro out of the gable on the other side.
A private duel that was to go to the Spaniard shortly afterwards, who scored the late equaliser in the 88th minute with a fantastic volley. However, this supposed final score was not to last for long: With less than ten seconds of injury time left on the clock, the Spaniard on the other side, Fabian Ruiz, set up a final finish and shot Napoli to an away victory and to the top of the table (90.+4).
Lazio next have the chance to score at Cagliari Calcio on Saturday (20.45). The next top game awaits Napoli at the same time on the following day: AC Milan, second in the table, visit the current league leaders at the foot of Mount Vesuvius.
