Dries Mertens scored two magnificent goals on the day Napoli remembered Diego Armando Maradona and tore Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio apart to go clear at the top of the table.
It was a very special night at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, as a year on from his death, a life-size statue of the iconic player was unveiled in this arena. Maurizio Sarri also returned for the first time since it was renamed, his Lazio missing Adam Marusic. Victor Osimhen was ruled out for three months by multiple facial fractures, with Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Adam Ounas injured, plus Matteo Politano with COVID.
It was the perfect start for the hosts, as Danilo Cataldi failed to clear a Hirving Lozano pass, so Piotr Zielinski absolutely smashed home the rebound with ferocity.
Moments later it was 2-0 with a goal created in the kind of style that typified Sarri’s Napoli. Fabian Ruiz floated a ball over the top, Insigne laid it off for Mertens, who with a dummy sent his defender to ground and curled into the far top corner from 12 yards.
Ciro Immobile tested David Ospina at the near post with an angled drive, while Pepe Reina was ready for Lozano at the back post on a trademark Insigne pass.
Ospina flew for a sensational one-handed save to deny Luis Alberto a stunning volley from the edge of the box. On the resulting corner, Francesco Acerbi’s free header bounced off the crossbar.
Instead, Napoli made it 3-0 as Lozano laid it off to the edge of the area, where Mertens swung the right boot first time to loop it over Reina into the far top corner. It was simply unstoppable.
Elseid Hysaj charged down a Lozano volley on Mertens assist, while Reina flew to palm away the Mario Rui curler, but Napoli had done everything they needed to and largely just controlled the second half.
There was another twist to come, as Fabian Ruiz unleashed a ferocious left-foot strike from outside the area that bent into the far bottom corner past Reina’s fingertips.
Napoli 4-0 Lazio
Zielinski 7 (N), Mertens 10, 29 (N), Fabian Ruiz 85 (N)
Nothing I can say…. Typical of us no heart and full of excuses which start with Lolito 🤡, Napoli however if they don’t win the Scudetto this season they never will! Very well played
In a article about Inzaghi in FI, a “Lazio” dude was glad to see Inzaghi away from Lazio! Well I’m glad you got a better coach! I’m not here to mock Lazio fans, not a t all, but how can Lazio fan be so ungrateful of Inzaghi?
Koulibaly was fantastic!
@Imissjuve yes a little rash that comment from the guy, I did say we should always be grateful to Inzaghi, Lolito is the 🤡 that let him walk away by not sorting his renewal, that said his cycle was slowly ending with this squad…. We were starting to get weaker and weaker… Sarri is a great coach but his methods will take time and let’s be honest we don’t have the squad to produce his style yet… one day if he continues his work, it will come good as I’m sure he will be able to shape more of a squad to his liking, he’s been let down this season so far by some of our so called better players. The talk of Ramos playing for Italy when he performs like he has done for us recently is comical
@Mr Lazio…. Sarri’s philosophy needs time and if Lotito spends more and brings player who suits Sarri that will come good for you. However, I’m not sure if his system become predictable over the time. Also is there enough “cheap” players who can do what he he asks for? I said “cheap” because we all know Lotito doesn’t like spending. ADL was more generous and that alone helped Sarri at Napoli.
Lazio don’t have the players to play 4-3-3 period, their entire back line is too slow. Someone like Pepe Reina shouldn’t be starting for a top Serie A team either. Lazio deserve this for failing to reinforce meaningfully for several years already. Their biggest spending was Muriqi whom they never needed nor was worth that much. Juventus are lucky that Lazio are such a sham right now, I guess they have a shot at Conference League after all.