Tireless Naples, Lazio new runner-up

Behind the tireless Naples, which crushed Torino (4-0) with a new double from Victor Osimhen, Lazio Rome temporarily took second place by pocketing a tense derby on Sunday against Roma at ten (1-0).

The Laziali, already victorious in the first leg (1-0), pull off a nice coup in the battle for the Champions League by putting the Louve (5th) at five points.

Thanks to a goal from Mattia Zaccagni, Maurizio Sarri’s team will keep their place as runners-up, 19 points behind Naples despite everything, if Inter Milan, third by two points, do not beat Juventus Turin (7th) in closing of this 27th day.

As against Sassuolo (3-4) last week, Roma was scuttled with two warnings received in 32 minutes by Roger Ibanez, already the unfortunate hero of the first leg with a big error on goal. The derby so far closed and chopped but relatively balanced, then became complicated for the team of José Mourinho, suspended.

The giallorosso doorman Rui Patricio delayed the deadline in front of Luis Alberto (57th), Pedro (62nd) and a close range recovery from Felipe Anderson (63rd). But could not do anything on the perfect cross shot from Mattia Zaccagni (65th), author of nine goals, as much as the home scorer Ciro Immobile, back from injury and remained on the bench.

“When you win these matches, you gain confidence. The ranking will allow us to look forward”, rejoiced on DAZN the scorer of the day.

Roma thought they snatched the equalizer shortly after, but Nicolo Casale’s own goal was canceled for Chris Smalling’s offside.

– Number of Neapolitan supporters –

Naples, for its part, displayed incredible form, four days after having validated its place for the quarter-finals of the Champions League by easily dominating Eintracht Frankfurt (3-0), with still spectacle and goals.

Already twice scorer against the Germans, Victor Osimhen placed two winning headers, the first to open the scoring from a corner (9th), the second for the 3-0 from the resumption (51st).

The striker, whose protective mask has become a fashionable accessory among Neapolitan supporters, has cemented his place as leader in the scorer rankings with 21 goals.

The ex-Lillois thanked the thousands of Neapolitan tifosi who made the trip to Turin for the resumption of travel for supporters after a two-month suspension imposed by the authorities after “ultras” from Naples and Roma had caused chaos on a major Italian motorway in early January.

“They have believed in it for years (in the scudetto, editor’s note), no one deserves it more than the tifosi of Naples”, launched the Neapolitan striker, who advances to an average goal per game in 2023 (15 in 15 met).

Kvaratskhelia also maintained his usual standards with a goal, his 12th, from the penalty spot (35th) and an assist, his 10th in the league (best passer), for the fourth goal signed Tanguy Ndombélé (68th).

At the bottom of the standings, Sampdoria, the red lantern before this day, maintained their hopes of maintenance by dominating another relegated Hellas Verona (18th) thanks in particular to a double from Manolo Gabbiadini (3-1).