Napoli missed the opportunity to extend their lead over Inter Milan to four points at the top of Serie A, as a late equalizer denied them all three points. Boulaye Dia’s last-gasp goal secured a 2-2 draw for Lazio, preventing Napoli from securing a much-needed victory.
The Match Begins
Gustav Isaksen put Lazio ahead after just six minutes, scoring the earliest goal against Napoli this season with an impressive long-range strike.
However, Napoli quickly responded, leveling the score in the 13th minute through Giacomo Raspadori. The forward nutmegged Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel after a clever one-two with Romelu Lukaku.
Napoli Takes the Lead
In the 64th minute, Napoli regained the advantage thanks to an unfortunate own goal from Adam Marusic, who deflected Raspadori’s shot past his own keeper.
Lazio’s Late Fightback
Despite going behind, Lazio refused to give up and pushed hard until the final moments. In stoppage time, substitute Boulaye Dia scored his first goal since November 2022, firing a low shot into the far corner to secure a dramatic equalizer.
Key Takeaways:
- Napoli’s Unbeaten Streak Continues: Napoli remains unbeaten in their last 10 Serie A matches (since a 1-0 loss to Lazio), but they have failed to beat Marco Baroni’s Lazio for the third time this season.
- Struggling Against Lazio: Napoli has now gone five games without a win over Lazio in the league (two draws, three losses) after winning each of their previous four encounters.
- First Time Since 2014: This is the first time since December 2014, under Rafael Benítez, that Napoli has drawn three consecutive Serie A matches, following a seven-match winning streak.
- Lazio’s Recent Form: Lazio has drawn three of their last five Serie A games at the Stadio Olimpico (one win, one loss), as many as they had in their previous 21 such games in the competition (14 wins, four losses).
Standings and Implications:
- Napoli: With 56 points, Napoli sits atop the table but risks losing their position if Inter Milan defeats Juventus on Sunday. They are currently two points ahead of Inter.
- Lazio: The team remains in fourth place but could drop further if Juventus secures a victory in their upcoming match.
Despite both teams showing strong performances, the recurring theme in recent encounters between these sides has been tightly contested draws, highlighting the competitive balance between Lazio and Napoli this season.
