Oozing with confidence following three consecutive 2-0 wins, Napoli flew out of the blocks to establish an early lead against a Lazio side that looked far from the team that had kept five clean sheets in their previous six home outings.
Matteo Politano cleverly worked the space on the right flank to stand up a deep cross to former Roma man Leonardo Spinazzola, who fired through Ivan Provedel’s legs after making an undetected run at the near post.
Ex-Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri would have also been frustrated with the way his team defended for the visitors’ second goal just past the half-hour mark.
Centre-back Amir Rrahmani was unchallenged when he met Politano’s deep free-kick, steering his composed header out of Provedel’s to net his first Serie A goal since December 2024.
Eljif Elmas then threatened to put the game to bed before the half-time whistle, only to see his headed effort crash against the crossbar, offering Lazio a much-needed reprieve in a difficult first half at the Stadio Olimpico.
Perhaps, expectedly, Napoli struggled to maintain their high intensity following the restart, although they continued to control proceedings and stifle Lazio’s rare forays forward.
Despite his dominance on the pitch, Antonio Conte would have left with a sinking feeling when he saw one of his key attackers, David Neres, being helped off the pitch in visible discomfort.
Neres’s replacement, Pasquale Mazzocchi, whipped in an inch-perfect delivery that should have been turned home, but Elmas could only divert his header wide of Provedel’s left post.
There proved to be no more goals, but the late drama was supplied by three red cards. Lazio’s Tijjani Noslin received a second yellow for a needless trip on Alessandro Buongiorno, before frustrations spilt over again when Adam Marusic and Mazzocchi came to blows and joined each other in an early trip down the tunnel.
Crucially for Napoli, they cruised through to the final whistle to move to within a point of leaders AC Milan, while Lazio stay in ninth position for the time being.
Flashcore Man of the Match: Matteo Politano (Napoli)
