Serie A leaders Lazio dropped points for only the second time this season on Sunday, held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Davide Frattesi gave Lazio the lead in the 28th minute, but an Alfonso Pedraza own goal three minutes after the restart cancelled it out and Napoli held on for a point that does little for their own season but plenty of damage to Lazio’s title cushion, according to AFP via Dawn and UM Legacy Press. Lazio remain top, but their lead is now just one point over Inter and two over Roma.
It was still a good result for Gennaro Gattuso’s surprise leaders in one sense — a point away at Napoli is never a bad return — but the draw ends their run of six consecutive Serie A wins and hands the initiative to the chasing pack.
Frattesi gives Lazio the lead
Frattesi’s 28th-minute opener put Lazio in control, and for a while it looked like the leaders would extend their winning run to seven. Lazio have been the story of the Italian season, topping the table with a blend of organisation and attacking quality that few expected in August.
But Napoli, struggling near the bottom of the table, fought back. The equaliser — an own goal from Pedraza, turning in Noa Lang’s cross in the 48th minute — was cruel on Lazio, but it was no more than Napoli deserved for their second-half effort. Kevin De Bruyne, the hosts’ star signing, came closest to winning it for Napoli late on.
The title race tightens
The draw leaves Lazio on 29 points, with Inter on 28 and Roma on 27. Two points separate the top three heading into the international break, and the title race in Italy is now the tightest in Europe’s major leagues.
Inter’s 2-0 win over Como earlier on Sunday had already put pressure on the leaders, and Lazio’s failure to win means the Nerazzurri go into the break just one point behind. Roma, who beat Sassuolo 3-0 on Saturday, are two points back and unbeaten this season.
What comes next
Lazio will spend the break reflecting on a missed opportunity — a win would have kept them three points clear. Instead, they are one point ahead of Inter and two ahead of Roma, and the title race is wide open. Napoli, meanwhile, take a point that does little to lift them from their lowly position, but a draw against the leaders is at least a sign of fight.
Read more: Inter beat Como 2-0 to close within one point of Lazio · Roma move second as unbeaten run continues with Sassuolo rout
