01/04/26 04:15:00
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01/04 16:13 CST Napoli triumphs over Lazio but match ends in chaos with three
red cards. Inter top of Serie A
Napoli triumphs over Lazio but match ends in chaos with three red cards. Inter
top of Serie A
By DANIELLA MATAR
AP Sports Writer
MILAN (AP) --- Napoli recorded a comfortable 2-0 win at Lazio amid a chaotic
finish to their Serie A match on Sunday as the defending champion continued its
good form from the end of 2025.
Leonardo Spinazzola and Amir Rrahmani scored in the first half of Napoli's
first match of 2026 as Antonio Conte's side remained third, a point behind AC
Milan and two points below Inter Milan, which beat Bologna 3-1.
Inter hosts Napoli next weekend.
There was a bad-tempered finish to Napoli's match, with three red cards in the
final 10 minutes.
Lazio defender Adam Marusic and Napoli counterpart Pasquale Mazzocchi were sent
off after getting into a scuffle, that descended into a brawl with Conte trying
to separate the two sides.
Lazio forward Tijjani Noslin had already been sent off in the 81st minute
following a second yellow card.
Napoli had ended last year in fine form with a 2-0 victory over Cremonese,
shortly after winning the Italian Super Cup.
The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute. Matteo Politano twisted and
turned down the right flank before putting in a cross for Spinazzola to volley
home.
Napoli doubled its advantage in the 33rd when Rrahmani headed a Politano free
kick into the bottom right corner.
The only negative note for Napoli --- apart from the red card --- was the sight
of David Neres having to be helped off in the 70th minute after the in-form
winger went down with an apparent ankle problem, adding to the team's already
lengthy injury list.
Revenge for Inter
Lautaro Martnez scored one goal and set up another as Inter avenged a recent
defeat to Bologna in the Italian Super Cup semifinals.
Lautaro set up the opener for Piotr Zieli?ski shortly before halftime and
headed in Inter's second goal shortly after the break.
Marcus Thuram bundled in a corner before Santiago Castro netted a late
consolation for Bologna.
Second win
Fiorentina started the year by getting only its second win of the season,
snatching a 1-0 victory over midtable Cremonese to move to within three points
of safety.
Substitute Moise Kean --- who had only come off the bench eight minutes earlier
--- scored in stoppage-time, tapping in a rebound after Cremonese goalkeeper
Emil Audero could only parry Niccol Fortini's header.
Hellas Verona lost 3-0 at home to Torino to leave the three teams in the
relegation zone all on 12 points, although Verona has played a match less than
Fiorentina and Pisa.
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