Serie A: Lazio Edges Napoli in Thriller

Catch the match recap of Lazio's shocking victory over Napoli, highlighted by a clutch goal in the dying minutes.

Lazio secured a massive victory away to Napoli, thanks to a stunning finish from Gustav Isaksen. This win comes on the heels of their Coppa Italia triumph, and it has propelled Atalanta to the top of the Serie A table. The two teams had previously met on Thursday in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, where Lazio emerged victorious with a 3-1 win, courtesy of a hat-trick from Tijjani Noslin.

For this match, Napoli's manager Antonio Conte made sweeping changes, fielding an entirely new starting lineup, with only Pasquale Mazzocchi unavailable due to injury. Meanwhile, Lazio welcomed back Nuno Tavares and Luca Pellegrini to their squad, but were without Matias Vecino and the suspended Nicolò Rovella.

The match got off to a lively start, with Ivan Provedel being called into action within the first two minutes. The Lazio goalkeeper made a crucial save at the near post, denying Scott McTominay's effort from a Matteo Politano pull-back from the by-line.

Both goalkeepers were tested in the opening half, as Alex Meret was also forced to make a spectacular save. Meret stretched to his full extent to palm away a curling left-footed effort from Gustav Isaksen, which was destined for the far bottom corner. The chances continued to flow, with Politano bending a powerful finish just wide of the target. However, it was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who came closest to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time, as his free kick shaved the paint off the near top corner.

Against the run of play, Lazio created a massive opportunity in the 52nd minute. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru seized possession from Stanislav Lobotka and unleashed a powerful shot from 30 yards out, which crashed onto the crossbar. The rebound bounced away to safety, denying Lazio a surprise lead.

The match continued to be intense and physical, with Alessio Romagnoli making a crucial block to deny Scott McTominay. Romagnoli rode two tackles before colliding with McTominay, which forced the Lazio defender to limp off the field with a bruised left shin. Napoli also came close to scoring, as Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa's glancing header from a corner bounced off the far post in the 71st minute.

Lazio's Tijjani Noslin made an immediate impact after coming off the bench. He first blasted a shot over the bar after springing the offside trap, but then played a crucial role in creating the breakthrough. Noslin's introduction proved to be a turning point in the match, as Lazio began to gain momentum and eventually found the back of the net.

Tijjani Noslin sparked the decisive moment, collecting the ball inside his own half and unleashing a precise slide-rule pass that released Gustav Isaksen down the right flank. Isaksen then showcased his individual brilliance, cutting inside Mathias Olivera before bending a powerful left-footed finish into the top corner from the edge of the area.

Napoli's frustration grew as they appealed for a penalty, but Giovanni Di Lorenzo's claims were waved away by the referee. Di Lorenzo went down under the slightest of tugs from Zaccagni, and the referee deemed it a clear case of simulation. The result has significant implications for the Serie A table, as Lazio's win propels Atalanta to the top of the standings. Lazio themselves are now only three points behind Atalanta and just one point adrift of Napoli.