😱 From Lazio... to Lazio: Napoli horror, first Maradona loss since 2024 😲 | OneFootball

Napoli are losing their way after the win over Milan that seemed to give them momentum for the final stretch of the season. After the disappointing draw with Parma, a hugely damaging home defeat against Lazio now arrives.

Antonio Conte’s side had not lost at home in Serie A since 8 December 2024, against the Biancocelesti themselves. A great performance from Maurizio Sarri’s men, who won 2-0 thanks to goals from Cancellieri and Basic.

🚑 Lazzari injury: early signs

In the 82nd minute, Lazzari is forced to ask to be substituted, with Hysaj coming on in his place. It remains unclear whether the right-back is dealing with very severe cramp or a muscle strain.

😰 DISASTER Buongiorno, 2-0 Lazio

In the 57th minute Lazio doubled their lead through Toma Basic, taking advantage of a Napoli side in total disarray.

Buongiorno tries an unlikely interception on Noslin, putting the Biancocelesti in a position to break. Nuno Tavares bursts down the left and plays it into the middle for Cancellieri, who miskicks it but gets lucky because Basic is right behind him and beats Milinkovic-Savic with a side-footed finish.

🔄 Double change for Napoli, KDB off

Antonio Conte opts for a double substitution at half-time. Off go an Anguissa still clearly short of fitness and a disappointing Kevin De Bruyne, with Elmas and Alisson Santos coming on to try to add unpredictability.

😱 Napoli go off to whistles

After a very poor first half, Napoli leave the pitch to whistles from the Maradona crowd. Less than a year on from winning the Scudetto, the fans find themselves protesting against a team that today is unrecognizable.

🧨 Milinkovic saves Zaccagni penalty. First miss in Serie A

In the 29th minute Napoli clumsily gift Lazio a penalty. Buongiorno clears it onto Noslin, who breaks toward goal and is brought down by Lobotka, who is only shown a yellow card.

This was Luca Marelli’s comment: "The only doubt could have been about the card, but when the ball is close to two players, DOGSO is considered downgraded."

Up steps Zaccagni, who misses a penalty in Serie A for the first time. Milinkovic-Savic saves it, but from the rebound the attacker gets another very good chance and hits it badly.

Milinkovic-Savic confirms himself as an incredible penalty saver: he has stopped 8 penalties in the last 8 seasons, with only David Soria matching him across Europe’s top five leagues.

⚡️ Lightning start from Lazio, 1-0 Cancellieri

After just 6 minutes Lazio took the lead through Cancellieri thanks to a brilliant move.

Zaccagni on the left plays Taylor through, and he gets away from Anguissa. The midfielder does brilliantly to pull it back into the middle for the former Parma man, who gives Milinkovic-Savic no chance.

❗️ Conte: "I’m not changing system, here’s why"

Before the match, Napoli coach Antonio Conte spoke to DAZN.

"Beukema’s inclusion is a technical choice; in other circumstances I’ve made different decisions. It’s right that in a squad like ours there is rotation. We’re about to get Rrahmani back, while Di Lorenzo isn’t ready. The range of choices is starting to grow. 

3-4-2-1? Without Di Lorenzo we lack a right-back, we can’t do anything different. With 6 matches left, I don’t see why we should create confusion by changing again. The captain will also be back soon; we’ll see when Neres and Vergara return. 

Second place? It doesn’t really change much, it’s first among the losers. What matters is qualifying for the Champions League. Inter are +12, but today we have to make up ground and stop making mistakes. We’re aiming to do our best, trying to look ahead while keeping an eye behind us too."

💥 Fabiani: "Taty not properly replaced? That’s not true"

Before the match against Napoli, Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani spoke to DAZN.

"The match against Napoli is important, beyond the Coppa Italia, which we’ll only think about afterwards. It’s true that the game with Atalanta will be the turning point of a troubled season marked by 45 injuries.

We have missed strong players and dropped points along the way. For us this is year zero, we have to rebuild by moving from the old to the new and lowering the average age. We’re building the framework.

Castellanos not being adequately replaced? Sarri prefers someone like Maldini and has given him space."

✅ Official line-ups

NAPOLI (3-4-2-1): Milinkovic-Savic; Beukema, Buongiorno, Olivera; Politano, Anguissa, Lobotka, Spinazzola; De Bruyne, McTominay; Hojlund.

LAZIO (4-3-3): Motta; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Basic, Cataldi, Taylor; Cancellieri, Noslin, Zaccagni.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 CARLO HERMANN - AFP or licensors