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Game 11, Serie A
Sunday, November 8, 2026
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Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
Napoli Lazio 1-1
Lazio played well in Naples but had to settle for a draw.
The team
With Mattia Zaccagni injured, Rino Gattuso was forced to deploy Tijjani Noslin on the left wing and bring Andrea Pinamonti into the side as centre-forward. Nuno Tavares had also experienced a few problems during the week but was nevertheless included in the starting eleven. The good news was the return of Adam Marušić and Nicolò Rovella to the bench.
Lazio had won their last four encounters in Naples and, with Napoli going through a difficult period, this was a good opportunity to make it five in a row.
First half
Less than a minute had elapsed when the Biancocelesti created their first chance. A pass from Rafa Marin was intercepted by Gustav Isaksen, who played a one-two with Pinamonti before shooting narrowly wide of the far post. In the sixth minute, a Noslin cross became unexpectedly dangerous and narrowly missed the crossbar. Another Isaksen effort, in the ninth minute, was pushed away by Vanja Milinković-Savić.
Napoli responded in the 13th minute through Noa Lang, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Christos Mandas. Four minutes later, Nuno Tavares took a corner and Josip Šutalo headed towards goal, only for Milinković-Savić to produce another save.
Napoli were struggling and Lazio took advantage. In the 28th minute, Noslin launched a counter-attack down the left and played the ball to Davide Frattesi, who accelerated past the Napoli defenders and found the net.
In the 33rd minute, however, the perfect afternoon was interrupted when Šutalo was forced off through injury. Diego Leite replaced him.
Napoli had to show some response, and Lang was their most dangerous weapon. In the 42nd minute, he produced a splendid ball from the right to Mathías Olivera, who reached the byline and cut the ball back towards Rasmus Højlund. Mandas managed to get a touch, disrupting the Dane's attempt, but Højlund still made contact with the ball. The Lazio goalkeeper then reacted superbly to stop it just before it crossed the line.
Lazio had been the better side and should probably have scored at least once more. Napoli were struggling, but Lang remained a constant threat.
Second half
Gattuso was forced to make another change at half-time, sending on Alfonso Pedraza in place of Nuno Tavares.
Napoli emerged considerably more aggressive after the break and equalised in the 48th minute. Scott McTominay dispossessed Frattesi on the left and passed to Kevin De Bruyne, who found Lang on the right. The Dutchman crossed into the box, where Oliver Provstgaard lost track of Højlund. Pedraza found himself caught between the Dane and McTominay. He attempted to intervene but could only divert the ball into his own net.
Napoli took control of the match and, in the 51st minute, McTominay tried his luck on the counter-attack, but Mandas saved comfortably.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru replaced Pinamonti, taking up a position on the left and allowing Noslin to move into the centre-forward role. Manuel Lazzari also came on for Romano Floriani, who had struggled to contain Lang.
In the 58th minute, De Bruyne found Højlund on the left-hand side of the box. His attempted shot was blocked by Provstgaard, but the ball fell perfectly for Olivera. It was a great opportunity for the Uruguayan, but he fired over the crossbar.
A minute later, Milinković-Savić produced a fantastic long ball which found De Bruyne completely unmarked in front of Mandas. The Lazio goalkeeper managed to parry his shot, but the ball rebounded off the Belgian and rolled towards the goal. Reda Belahyane arrived just in time to clear it, almost on the line.
Matteo Cancellieri replaced a tiring Frattesi, while Dele-Bashiru moved back into midfield.
After spending much of the first twenty minutes of the second half under pressure, Lazio gradually regained control of the game. Following a Noslin shot that was deflected by a defender in the 76th minute, Belahyane produced a superb coast-to-coast run three minutes later, dribbling past several opponents before reaching the edge of the box and laying the ball off to Cancellieri. His shot was too central, however, and Milinković-Savić saved.
Napoli made several substitutions, bringing on André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Matteo Politano, Lorenzo Lucca and Giovane for Billy Gilmour, Antonio Vergara, Højlund and De Bruyne.
In the 87th minute, another long ball from Vanja Milinković-Savić found Lucca and McTominay. The Italian got to the ball ahead of the Scot, who had perhaps been in a better position, but his volley went wide.
Game over
A great performance from Lazio. They could have lost, but they could just as easily have won. Whether the glass was half full or half empty, there was plenty to be encouraged by.
Who played for Napoli
Milinkovic-Savic, Beukema, Rrahmani, Marin, Vergara (74' Politano), Gilmour (69' Anguissa), McTominay, Olivera, De Bruyne (83' Giovane), Lang, Hojlund (74' Lucca)
Substitutes: Meret, Contini, Melnyk, Lieto, Barido, Chiummariello, Pereyra
Manager: Allegri
Who played for Lazio
Mandas, Floriani (61' Lazzari), Sutalo (33' Diogo Leite), Provstgaard, Nuno Tavares (46' Pedraza), Frattesi (78' Cancellieri), Belahyane, Taylor, Isaksen, Pinamonti (61' Dele-Bashiru), Noslin
Substitutes: Motta, Renzetti, Pellegrini, Doekhi, Marusic, Farcomeni, Przyborek, Cataldi, Rovella, Serra
Manager: Gattuso
Referee: Pairetto
Goals: 28’ Frattesi, 48’ Pedraza (og)
Booked: Lang (N), Gilmour (N), Vergara (N), Pedraza (L)
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