Lazio surprised Napoli and is now the new shooting guard

There was a surprise in Maradona. With a climate of Diego’s times in the stands, Lazio beat Napoli 1-0 and He took his home away undefeated so far this season for all competitions (he had only lost two games, at Anfield for the Champions League against Liverpool and at the Meazza, against Inter Milan for Serie A).

In any case, the scenario of this protagonist Naples does not change much. Not much: Lazio rises to second place 17 points behind. Those who share third place (Inter and Milan) are 18 with one game left.

From that admiration to this defeat

“When I was in Russia (he managed Zenit St. Petersburg) I stayed to watch Sarri’s Napoli matches”. That team that flirted with the Scudetto (between 2015 and 2018 they were second twice and third once) it was a mirror in which one looked into the distance.

Luciano Spalletti, the author of the phrase, today coach of this Napoli that seems capable of anything. Today Sarri leads Lazio, that team that lined him up on an equal footing with Maradona to the best team of the Italian season and – according to the numbers – from all over Europe.

The astuteness and conviction of the Roman team also explain this first half. With the beginning dominated by Lazio and the end dominated by Napoli, but with almost always ownership of the premises (it closed with 61% in that phase). It’s true, however: there were no goals and deep finishes were few.

Highlights from that first half: for the visitors, 5′ on, header by Vecino which Di Lorenzo saves with another header on the line with goalkeeper Meret already defeated. That of the locals, in the 30th minute, Lozano’s cross on the right and the goalscorer Osimhen hardly arrived at all.

Lazio’s winning plan

Lazio continues its plan based on the neutralization of the three Napoli forwards (Lozano, Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia), without giving away the ball and trying from outside the area. Here’s how the goal arrived: 22′ into the second half, a splendid right-footed shot by the Uruguayan Vecino, from outside the area, surprised Meret and that packed stadium.

Napoli did what the circumstances required: they went in search of everything, stopped in a rival field and tried in every possible way. eleven minutes from the end he was on the verge of a draw twice in the same play. Corner kick from the left, header by Osimhen on the crossbar, cleared, shot under goal by Min Jae and save – with pure reflexes – by Provedel.

The rest was much the same. Local attempts, the visiting defense fierce. So to the end. Until that outcome embraced by a marvel. And to the great disappointment of that packed stadium.