Napoli 0-1 Lazio: Maurizio Sarri returns to haunt former club as Matias Vecino strike downs league leaders

Serie A leaders Napoli suffered just their second league defeat of the season as Matias Vecino’s thunderous half-volley secured Lazio a 1-0 victory on Maurizio Sarri’s return to his former club. A fairly uneventful encounter came to life in the second half when Vecino latched onto a loose ball and fired past Alex Meret in the 67th minute to put Napoli’s nine-game domestic winning streak in jeopardy.

Ad Victor Osimhen came close to equalising when his header crashed off the bar, but the visitors were able to scramble the ball clear and hang on for a famous victory. Serie ANapoli march on in Serie A with win on the road at Empoli25/02/2023 AT 19:02 Lazio made four changes in a bid to thwart Europe’s in-form side and went closest to opening the scoring in the fifth minute.

Vecino’s header from a brilliant cross had Meret in the Napoli goal beaten but Giovanni Di Lorenzo did brilliantly to divert the ball over the bar to keep things level. Napoli weathered the early storm and grew into the game but it was far from a vintage performance from Luciana Spalletti’s side.

Piotr Zielinski called Ivan Provedel into action in the 17th minute with a long-range effort but the Lazio shot-stopper was equal to the task. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa then had a shot from a similar distance deflected just over the bar but that was as close as the hosts came in a drab first period as the visitors nullified the threat of Osimhen.

The hosts began the second half the livelier of the sides but were left stunned when the visitors broke the deadlock. Kvaratskhelia, who looked dangerous all game, didn’t do enough with his defensive header and Vecino made him pay, unleashing a rocket from 25 yards that would have been worthy of deciding any contest.