Lazio beats champions Napoli 2-1 for first win of the season

Lazio’s Luis Alberto and Daichi Kamada secured a 2-1 win for last season’s runners-up at champions Napoli in Serie A on Saturday to earn Maurizio Sarri’s side their first points of the season, while the hosts suffered their first defeat.

Daichi Kamada of SS Lazio scores goal 1-2 during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Lazio Rome . | Photo Credit: AP

Lazio’s Luis Alberto and Daichi Kamada secured a 2-1 win for last season’s runners-up at champions Napoli in Serie A on Saturday to earn Maurizio Sarri’s side their first points of the season, while the hosts suffered their first defeat.

Napoli sealed comfortable wins over Frosinone and Sassuolo in their opening two games but lacked precision to pass what was expected to be their first real test under new coach Rudi Garcia who took over from Luciano Spalletti in June.

They had 22 shots in the game, but only four on target compared to a six from Lazio.

Napoli stands fourth with six points from three games while Lazio, who was in the relegation zone after defeats by Lecce and Serie A newcomers Genoa, is now 12th with three from three.

The Rome-based side have won back-to-back games at Napoli for the first time since 1937.

Napoli tested Lazio’s defence with a flurry of shots in the opening half hour as Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had chances to secure an early advantage.

But the visitors shocked the home crowd by scoring against the run of play on the half-hour through Luis Alberto’s cheeky backheel after good work by Felipe Anderson down the right.

Napoli quickly recovered from the setback and levelled two minutes later through Poland midfielder Piotr Zielinski’s deflected low shot went past Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel.

The pace did not slow after the break as both sides pressed for a winner and Kamada restored Lazio’s lead in the 52nd minute with a low shot for his debut goal in Serie A.

The Diego Armando Maradona Stadium went silent 15 minutes later when Lazio thought they had extended their advantage after Mattia Zaccagni found the net but it was disallowed for offside.

Four minutes later Lazio midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, on loan from Olympique de Marseille, fired home only for VAR to rule his effort out.

“We had a painful first half but not passive. Then in the second half the game was in our hands, we made it 3-1 twice,” Sarri told DAZN. “Today we had a good mentality ... I hope (the real face of Lazio) is tonight’s one.”

They are the first team to win at Napoli since early April when the hosts were handed a 4-0 defeat by AC Milan.