Napoli overwhelms Lazio 4-0 in the postponement of the 14th matchday of Serie A and returns to the top of the standings alone thanks to the defeat of Milan against Sassuolo. The two goals from Mertens and the seals of Zielinski and Fabian Ruiz are decisive: Spalletti’s team leaves behind the knockouts with Inter and with Spartak in Europe, once again launching a great signal to the championship; Sarri’s men, on the other hand, still fall after the home defeat with Juve.
The atmosphere in the Fuorigrotta stadium before the kick-off was spectacular, with the blue audience paying homage to Diego Armando Maradona, who passed away on November 25 a year ago and is remembered with a statue depicting ‘El Pibe de Oro’. Before leaving room for the match, all the lights of the sports facility went out, with only a few spotlights illuminating the opera and the choirs raised from the stands facing the former Argentine champion.
The first half seen at the ‘Maradona’ is totally one-way and dominated far and wide by the Neapolitans, who unlocked after seven minutes with Zielinski, then doubling immediately on 10 ‘with a great goal from Mertens. Few ideas from the Capitoline, who are one step away from reopening the match around 25 ‘, first with a right-footed shot by Luis Alberto saved by Ospina, then with a crossbar hit by Acerbi. In the best moment of Sarri’s men, however, an absolute masterpiece arrives by Mertens who with a right-footed turn from the outside on Lozano’s assist, signs the personal double and the 3-0.
In the second half, Spalletti’s team does not have to do is manage the large advantage, risking practically nothing behind with Lazio who do not give the feeling of believing very much. In the final, Fabian Ruiz also participates in the Neapolitan party, who with a fabulous southpaw from outside the area draws the trajectory that is worth the final 4-0.