The Partenopei Hold Off Lazio in Heated Contest Featuring Three Sendings-Off
First-half strikes from Leonardo Spinazzola and Amir Rrahmani earned a two-goal victory for Napoli at the Stadio Olimpico in a match overshadowed by a trio of red cards.
The win pushes Napoli to within a single point of Italian league pace-setters AC Milan, who prevailed on Friday. Inter occupy third place but have a chance to go back to the summit with a victory in their later match.
Control Amid Absences
Despite missing a number of key players, Napoli controlled the game with measured build-up play. The opener arrived when Matteo Politano's cross was drilled home by the wing-back at the far post.
The advantage was doubled in the first half as the defender guided a header from a Politano set-piece into the bottom corner. They went close to a third goal shortly after when Elmas watched his header crash against the crossbar.
Flashpoints and Red Cards
After the break brought more worry for the visitors when a winger limped off. This incident sparked a short altercation, resulting in bookings for a Napoli defender and the home side's Noslin—who subsequently was shown a second yellow for a challenge.
"My compliments to the lads, playing with this level of quality and intensity while preventing Lazio play is not easy," stated the triumphant head coach. "Our performance was at a very high level of quality."
Tempers flared again late on as two opponents were embroiled in a heated confrontation, requiring the manager to step in. The two players were shown red cards for their part in the incident.
Elsewhere Continental Action
In Spain's La Liga, the Andalusian side endured a heavy loss at home to struggling the Granotas. The visitors established a lead with a fine move before scoring two further strikes in the second half to complete a comprehensive win.
In other news, Real Madrid host major must-win when they play Real Betis, after their arch-rivals extended their lead at the summit. In the day's other match, Atleti make the journey to face Real Sociedad.
Turning to Ligue 1, a landmark capital derby takes place as the newly-promoted side visit powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain. This match represents the inaugural top-flight meeting between the neighbors in over 36 years, adding significant spice to the weekend's action.
