Monday, December 16, 2024

Serie A | Napoli 0-1 Lazio: Isaksen knocks Conte off top spot

Must read

Serie A | Napoli 0-1 Lazio: Isaksen knocks Conte off top spot

A ferocious Gustav Isaksen finish gave Lazio a huge victory away to Napoli, just days after their Coppa Italia triumph, putting Atalanta top of the Serie A table.

These teams met on Thursday in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, with Lazio emerging 3-1 winners thanks to a Tijjani Noslin hat-trick, but Antonio Conte changed all 11 starters here with only Pasquale Mazzocchi out injured. The Aquile welcomed back Nuno Tavares and Luca Pellegrini, but Matias Vecino and suspended Nicolò Rovella missed out.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

Ivan Provedel needed a big save in the opening 120 seconds on Scott McTominay at the near post on a Matteo Politano pull-back from the by-line.

Alex Meret was also tested, at full stretch to palm a Gustav Isaksen left-foot curler out of the far bottom corner from the edge of the area.

Politano bent a powerful finish just wide, but Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost scored on the stroke of half-time with a free kick that shaved a coat of paint off the near top corner.

Lazio had a huge opportunity against the run of play on 52 minutes, as Fisayo Dele-Bashiru unleashed a sudden rocket from 30 yards out that smashed onto the crossbar after robbing Stanislav Lobotka.

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 08: Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Scott Francis McTominay of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 08: Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Scott Francis McTominay of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi - SS Lazio/Getty Images)

NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 08: Matteo Guendouzi of SS Lazio competes for the ball with Scott Francis McTominay of SSC Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Alessio Romagnoli blocked off McTominay after riding two tackles and the collision forced the Lazio defender to limp off with a bruised left shin.

Napoli also clipped the frame of the goal, as the Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa glancing header from a corner bounced off the far post on 71 minutes.

Tijjani Noslin came off the bench and immediately blasted over after springing the offside trap, then helped create the breakthrough.

Noslin gathered inside his own half and with a slide-rule pass released Isaksen down the right, who cut inside Mathias Olivera and bent a powerful left-foot finish into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Napoli had penalty appeals, but Giovanni Di Lorenzo went down far too easily under the lightest of tugs from Zaccagni.

Not only does this result make Atalanta the new leaders, but it puts Lazio only three points off La Dea and one behind Napoli.

Napoli 0-1 Lazio

Isaksen 79 (L)

Latest article