Lazio managed to dig deep in Campania, holding strong to edge out a hard-fought 2-1 win over defending champions Napoli.
The Biancocelesti started the new campaign on the wrong foot, suffering back-to-back losses to Lecce and Genoa, causing concern amongst supporters as the team plummeted down the Serie A table.
Napoli, on the other hand, had secured two wins over Frosinone and Sassuolo, starting to build some momentum under new coach Rudi Garcia.
First Half
Maurizio Sarri took no risks with his Lazio squad, starting the regular faces like Ciro Immobile, Ivan Provedel and Luis Alberto. Napoli had their usual stars like Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Giovanni Di Lorenzo all on the pitch.
The Partenopei dominated the early stages of the match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, but Lazio managed to steal the lead after 30 minutes thanks to a classy backheel from Luis Alberto, following a darting run by Felipe Anderson.
It didn’t take long for the home side to respond, however. Barely two minutes later, Piotr Zielinski found the leveller after his deflected shot from outside the box crept past Provedel, making things 1-1.
Second Half
After a scary start to the second half, Lazio managed to again put a foot forward in the 52nd minute following a quick counter-attack, which was finished off by a charging Daichi Kamada, giving him his debut goal for the club.
The Biancocelesti thought they’d found their third goal in the 67th minute through Mattia Zaccagni, but a VAR check chalked it off for offside. Matteo Guendouzi then put the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later, but this was also ruled out after a VAR check for offside, frustrating Sarri’s side.
Napoli were unable to respond in the closing stages of the match, allowing Lazio to escape to Rome with all three points after a tiring but rewarding match in the Campania capital.
Player Ratings
IL CORRIERE DELLO SPORT – Provedel 7; Marusic 6,5, Casale 7, Romagnoli 7, Hysaj 6.5 (Pellegrini sv 35’ st); Kamada 7 (Guendouzi 7 20’ st), Cataldi 7, Luis Alberto 7.5; Felipe Anderson 7,5 (Pedro sv 35’ st), Immobile 6 (Castellanos sv 47’ st), Zaccagni 6 (Isaksen sv 47’ st). All.: Sarri 7,5
LA GAZZETTA DELLO SPORT – Provedel 7; Marusic 6, Casale 6.5, Romagnoli 6, Hysaj 6 (36‘st Pellegrini 6); Kamada 7 (20‘st Guendouzi 7), Cataldi 6, Luis Alberto 7.5; Felipe Anderson 7.5 (35‘st Pedro 6), Immobile 6 (48‘st Castellanos sv), Zaccagni 6.5 (48‘st Isaksen sv). Allenatore: Sarri 7.
IL RESTO DEL CARLINO – Provedel 6.5; Marusic 6.5, Casale 6, Romagnoli 6.5, Hysaj 6 (36‘st Pellegrini sv); Kamada 7 (20‘st Guendouzi 6.5), Cataldi 6, Luis Alberto 7.5; Felipe Anderson 7 (35‘st Pedro sv), Immobile 6 (48‘st Castellanos sv), Zaccagni 6 (48‘st Isaksen sv). Allenatore: Sarri 6.5.
IL TEMPO – Provedel 7; Marusic 6, Casale 7, Romagnoli 7, Hysaj 7.5 (35’ st Pellegrini sv); Kamada 6.5 (19’ st Guendouzi 7), Cataldi 7, Luis Alberto 8.5; Felipe Anderson 7.5 (35’ st Pedro sv), Immobile 6 (45’ + 3’ st Castellanos sv), Zaccagni 6.5 (45’ + 3’ st Isaksen sv). All.: Sarri 7
LA STAMPA – Provedel 7,5; Marusic 6,5, Casale 6,5, Romagnoli 6, Hysaj 6 (35′ st L. Pellegrini sv); Kamada 7 (20′ st Guendouzi 7), Cataldi 6,5, Luis Alberto 7,5; Felipe Anderson 7,5 (35′ st Pedro sv), Immobile 5,5 (48′ st Castellanos sv), Zaccagni 6 (48′ st Isaksen sv). All: Sarri 7
CORRIERE DELLA SERA – Provedel 7,5; Marusic 6,5, Casale 6,5, Romagnoli 5,5, Hysaj 6 (Pellegrini sv 35’ st); Kamada 6,5 (Guendouzi 6,5 20’ st), Cataldi 6,5, Luis Alberto 8; Felipe Anderson 7,5 (Pedro sv 35’ st), Immobile 6 (Castellanos sv 47’ st), Zaccagni 6,5 (Isaksen sv 47’ st). All.: Sarri 7,5
IL MESSAGGERO – Provedel 7; Marusic 6 Casale 7 Romagnoli 7 Hysaj 6 (35′ st Pellegrini ng); Kamada 7 (20′ st Guedouzi 7.5) Cataldi 6.5 Luis Alberto 8; Felipe Anderson 7 (35′ st Pedro ng) Immobile 6 (48′ st Castellanos ng), Zaccagni 6.5 (48′ st Isaksen ng). All: Sarri 8
IL GIORNALE – Provedel 6; Marusic 6, Casale 6,5, Romagnoli 6,5, Hysaj 6,5 (32’ st Pellegrini sv); Kamada 7 (19’ st Guendouzi 6), Cataldi 6,5, Luis Alberto 7,5; Anderson 7 (32’ st Pedro sv), Immobile 6 (47’ st Castellanos sv), Zaccagni 7 (47’ st Isaksen sv). All. Sarri 7.
LA NAZIONE – Provedel 6.5; Marusic 6.5, Casale 6, Romagnoli 6.5, Hysaj 6 (36‘st Pellegrini sv); Kamada 7 (20‘st Guendouzi 6.5), Cataldi 6, Luis Alberto 7.5; Felipe Anderson 7 (35‘st Pedro sv), Immobile 6 (48‘st Castellanos sv), Zaccagni 6 (48‘st Isaksen sv). Allenatore: Sarri 6.5.
