Napoli Player Ratings vs Lazio: Olivera Switch-Off Topples Partenopei | OneFootball

Lazio pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory against title-chasing Napoli on Sunday night, knocking Antonio Conte’s side down from the top of the Serie A standings. Marco Baroni’s men built on a remarkable 3-1 win in midweek Coppa Italia action on a rainy night in Naples to help Atalanta ascend the throne.

Despite handing several first-team stars, including Romelu Lukaku and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, rest in the cup game on Thursday, Conte failed to extend his team’s two-game winning league streak. Indeed, Napoli created several decent scoring opportunities but couldn’t capitalize on any of them.

On the other hand, Lazio waited for their chances on the break. The visitors’ patience paid off late as Gustav Isaksen took advantage of Mathias Olivera’s poor anticipation to break the deadlock in the 79th minute to inspire the Biancocelesti to a third consecutive win on Napoli’s home ground.

Back-to-back defeats to Lazio have halted Partenopei’s momentum, with tonight’s result seeing Napoli surrender the top spot in Serie A for the first time since September. Conte’s men now trail leaders Atalanta by two points as we look at our player ratings.

Napoli (4-3-3)

Alex Meret – 6.5

A slippery turf at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona was always going to be a challenging task for the wantaway Napoli star. However, he fared well, though there was nothing he could’ve done to thwart Isaksen’s effort.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo – 6

Despite completing numerous overlapping runs down the right flank, the Napoli captain often struggled to find the final touch. Defensively spot-on!

Alessandro Buongiorno – 6.5

There’s no longer a shred of doubt! He’s among the best defenders in Serie A, as witnessed by a scintillating marking of Taty Castellanos and Boulaye Dia.

Amir Rrahmani – 6

The Kosovo international was lucky to have Buongiorno watch his back, considering his showing, albeit giving the impression of commanding, flattered to deceive.

Mathias Olivera – 4.5

Had he shown more composure and better anticipation, Isaksen wouldn’t have got on the end of Tijjani Noslin’s hopeful switch of play to hand Lazio the win. Uneventful in attack!

Scott McTominay – 6.5

Ivan Provedel made a superb save to deny his early attempt and deny him another Serie A goal. However, the Scottish midfielder enjoyed another impressive game.

Stanislav Lobotka – 6

Back from injury, the diminutive Slovakian ace couldn’t influence the proceedings, refusing to take risks in possession, hence another subdued performance.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa – 7

After nearly scoring a spectacular goal in the first half, the Cameroonian came inches away from opening the scoring after the break, only to see the far post stop his header.

Matteo Politano – 6

Following an electrifying first-half display, the left-footed winger vanished from the pitch, doing nothing noteworthy after the halftime interval before being subbed off late in the second half.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – 7

It’s a shame his well-taken free-kick toward the end of the first half flew a whisker wide of the near post. Though he didn’t do much from open play, his set-piece deliveries often caused havoc in Lazio’s box.

Romelu Lukaku – 5

It was one of the most frustrating nights for the Napoli center-forward. Cut off from the rest of the pack for most of the evening, the Belgian superstar didn’t have a clear sight of goal all night.

Substitutes

David Neres – 6

Billy Gilmour – 5.5

Giacomo Raspadori – 4