The warning signs were there for another Napoli implosion, but Maurizo Sarri’s side responded emphatically to beat Lazio
Napoli went into their Saturday night meeting with Lazio under real pressure. For a club with a recent history of implosions, this did not bode well. The last time they were involved in a serious Scudetto push, in 2015-16, they self-destructed at Udinese. Defeat that day meant they ceded crucial ground to eventual champions Juventus. Almost two years on, a similarly fateful performance seemed to be on the cards.
All the warning signs were there. Juve had taken top spot with a win over Fiorentina on Friday, meaning Napoli had to beat third-placed Lazio in order to reclaim the initiative. They proceeded to go 1-0 down within three minutes, before Maurizio Sarri was dismissed for dissent. Marek Hamsik’s pre-match reassurance that he and his team-mates were “accustomed to pressure” looked suspect. However, rather than imploding, this time Napoli showed the fortitude of genuine contenders.
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Sit back and enjoy a simply sublime Napoli team move
If you're going to go back to the top of the table, do it in style... pic.twitter.com/up1qlF76P4
Fiorentina 0-2 Juventus, Spal 0-4 Milan, Crotone 1-1 Atalanta, Napoli 4-1 Lazio, Sassuolo 0-0 Cagliari, Chievo 0-1 Genoa, Inter 2-1 Bologna, Sampdoria 2-0 Verona, Torino 2-0 Udinese, Roma 5-2 Benevento
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