Napoli hammer Lazio 4-1 to pip Juventus and stay top of Serie A table

Sport360 staff 15:09 11/02/2018
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Napoli have enjoyed an inspired season.

    Napoli came from behind to produce a stunning 4-1 victory against Lazio to storm back to the top of the Serie A table.

    Juventus, who have won the league title over the last six campaigns, returned to the summit following Friday’s 2-0 triumph at Fiorentina but a dominant second-half showing by Maurizio Sarri’s side ensured the Bianconeri moved back into second, despite dropping just 10 points this season.

    Holland international centre-back Stefan de Vrij fired the visitors in front with a powerful strike from close range following great work from striker Ciro Immobile. However, Napoli equalised two minutes before the break through Jose Callejon’s composed finish after Jorginho found the Spaniard with a wonderful lofted pass.

    The hosts moved ahead for the first time in the match when Lazio defender Wallace put the ball through his own goal nine minutes after the restart before Mario Rui’s first goal in top-flight football moved Napoli further ahead moments later.

    Dies Mertens added gloss to the scoreline with his 19th goal of the season in all competitions after Piotr Zielinski picked out the Belgium international to slot home and seal their eighth consecutive league win.

    Patrick Cutrone scored twice as AC Milan breezed to a 4-0 success at SPAL to extend their unbeaten league run to six matches.

    The academy graduate was handed a place in the starting line-up ahead of summer signings Andre Silva and Nikola Kalinic and the 20-year-old got Milan off to the perfect start when he was quickest to react to Alessio Romagnoli’s parried header after just two minutes.

    Hakan Calhanoglu went close to extending the visitors’ lead from range, with SPAL going even closer through Federico Viviani, who saw his effort come back off the right-hand post with goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma well beaten.

    However, Cutrone doubled the lead after 65 minutes with a close-range finish before Lucas Biglia curled in a wonderful effort from 25 yards after dispossessing Alberto Grassi to make it 3-0, with Fabio Borini rounding off the scoring in stoppage-time to move Gennaro Gattuso’s side up to seventh.

    Atalanta rescued a late point against relegation-threatened Crotone following a 1-1 draw at the Stadio Ezio Scida.

    Chances were few and far between for the majority of the match as it looked to be heading to a laborious goalless draw, but Crotone took a surprise lead with 10 minutes remaining when Rolando Mandragora seized on a mistake from goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.

    However, the visitors grabbed an equaliser two minutes from time when Jose Palomino scored into an empty net after Andrea Masiello’s close-range effort was stopped by Alex Cordaz as Crotone edged four points ahead of 18th-placed SPAL.

    Recommended