Gli Azzurri Overcome Lazio in Fiery Contest Featuring Multiple Dismissals
Early efforts from Leonardo Spinazzola and Amir Rrahmani earned a win for Napoli at Lazio in a fixture overshadowed by a trio of red cards.
The win propels Napoli to within a single point of Italian league pace-setters AC Milan, who won on Friday. Inter hold third place but can return to the top with a victory in their later match.
Dominance Amid Injury Woes
Hampered by the absence of a number of key players, the southern Italian side commanded the proceedings with patient attacks. The opener arrived when Matteo Politano's delivery was volleyed home by Spinazzola at the far post.
The advantage was doubled in the first half as the defender guided a header from another Politano set-piece into the net. They came close to a third goal shortly after when Elmas saw his header crash against the woodwork.
Flashpoints and Dismissals
The second half brought more worry for the visitors when a winger limped off. This incident sparked a short altercation, resulting in yellow cards for a Napoli defender and Lazio's Tijjani Noslin—who subsequently was shown a second yellow for a foul.
"I must congratulate my players, playing with this level of quality and physical strength without letting Lazio play is not easy," remarked the triumphant head coach. "We played at a very high level of play."
Tempers boiled over again late on as two opponents became involved in a heated confrontation, requiring the coach to intervene. The two players were dismissed for their involvement in the clash.
Elsewhere European Fixtures
In Spain's La Liga, the Andalusian side suffered a 3-0 defeat at home to struggling the Granotas. Levante took control with a well-worked move before adding two more goals in the second period to complete a convincing victory.
In other news, Real Madrid face significant pressure when they play Betis, after their arch-rivals extended their advantage at the top. In the day's late match, Atleti travel to face La Real.
In France, a landmark capital derby is scheduled as the newly-promoted side visit giants Paris Saint-Germain. The fixture represents the first top-flight encounter between the neighbors in decades, adding extra intrigue to the weekend's action.