Lazio 0-2 Napoli: Nervous Aquile Outplayed by the Champions

Lazio began their 2026 in poor fashion, losing an ill-tempered contest at home to Napoli by two unanswered goals.

Lazio & Napoli Starting Lineups

Maurizio Sarri was happy to welcome Matteo Guendouzi and Toma Basic back from suspension. The duo joined Danilo Cataldi in the middle of the park, while Tijjani Noslin led the line once more, flanked by Matteo Cancellieri and club captain, Mattia Zaccagni.

On the other hand, Antonio Conte kept his starting lineup intact, with Rasmus Hojlund spearheading the 3-4-2-1 formation, with Eljif Elmas and David Neres behind him. Stanislav Lobotka and Scott McTominay started in the double pivot, with Matteo Politano and Leonardo Spinazzola on the flanks.

Spinazzola Gives Napoli an Early Lead

Lazio looked on par with the champions in the first minutes, but Tijjani Noslin squandered a promising chance with a poor header, whereas Spinazzola made the most out of his opportunity in the 14th minute.

Cataldi gave the ball away cheaply in a dangerous area, and Politano managed to peel away from Luca Pellegrini before finding the unmarked Spinazzola with a delicate cross from the right. The former Roma wing-back took it on the volley, and it skipped past the legs of Ivan Provedel, who didn’t have a good view.

Amir Rrahmani doubles Napoli’s Lead With Controversial Goal

Match official Davide Massa awarded the Italian champions a free-kick for a handball on Noslin, while Lazio argued that the Dutchman got a push from Amir Rrahmani, which should have warranted a foul. Ironically, the Kosovar defender was the one to score from the ensuing set ball, emerging out of the crowd to head home Politano’s cross.

Noslin & Elmas Waste Chances

The Biancocelesti almost replied immediately through Noslin who, pounced on a loose ball, but didn’t trust himself to take on Vanja Milinkovic-Savic in the one-on-one. He thus decided to pass the ball away, as the chance went begging.

On the other hand, Napoli almost found a third when Neres teed up Elmas with a sublime cross, but the North Macedonian’s close-range header crashed against the bar.

The Champions Maintain their Dominance in Second Half

While the second half wasn’t the most entertaining of affairs, Napoli looked happy to exert their dominance and patiently await the chance to add to their lead. Hojlund tried his luck twice, but couldn’t hit the target, while Elmas should have done better in front of goal, but his bouncing header whistled past the post.

Lazio Lose Noslin & Marusic

With Taty Castellanos sold to West Ham and Boulaye Dia at the African Cup of Nations, the last thing Sarri wanted was to lose Noslin. And yet, the Dutch striker picked up a second yellow by tripping Alessandro Buongiorno from behind, leaving Lazio with a man down, and without a first-team striker for the next contest against Fiorentina.

A few minutes later, Adam Marusic started a brawl with Pasquale Mazocchi, and Massa decided to give both players their marching orders, leaving Napoli with 10 men and Lazio with only nine. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Biancocelesti almost scored when Pedro’s free-kick found Guendouzi, but the Frenchman’s header was denied by the woodwork.

In the end, Lazio lost their first game of the year and will be without two key players in their next one. The Aquile will end the weekend in a mediocre ninth place in the table.

Lazio 0-2 Napoli

Goalscorers: 14′ Spinazzola (N), 32′ Rrahmani (N)

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini (62′ Lazzari); Guendouzi, Cataldi (70′ Belahyane), Basic; Cancellieri (70′ Cancellieri), Noslin, Zaccagni.

Napoli (3-4-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani (78′ Buongiorno), Juan Jesus; Politano, McTominay, Lobotka, Spinazzola (78′ Gutierrez); Neres (67′ Mazzocchi), Hojlund (87′ Lang), Elmas.

Referee: Davide Massa (Imperia section); Assistants: Meli – Costanzo; Fourth official: Piccinini; VAR: Di Paolo; AVAR: Doveri

Yellow Cards : 43′ Zaccagni (L), 64′ Cataldi (L), 69′ Rrahmani (N), 69′ Noslin (L).

Red cards: 80′ Noslin (L), 87′ Marusic (L), 87′ Mazzocchi (N).