Defending champions Napoli recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Lazio to move up to second place in Serie A on Sunday as they continued their good form from late 2025.
Leonardo Spinazzola and Amir Rrahmani scored in the first half of Napoli’s first match of 2026.
An ill-tempered finish followed, with three red cards in the last ten minutes.
Lazio defender Adam Marusic and Napoli counterpart Pasquale Mazzocchi were sent off after getting into a scuffle, which culminated in a brawl with Napoli coach Antonio Conte trying to separate the two sides.
Lazio striker Tijjani Noslin was sent off in the 81st minute after a second yellow card.
Napoli moved one point below Serie A leaders AC Milan and one above Inter Milan, who later played Bologna.
Inter will host Napoli next weekend.
Napoli had finished in fine form last year with a 2-0 win over Cremonese, shortly after winning the Italian Super Cup.
READ ALSO | Why are several EFL Championship matches on Sunday postponed?
The visitors took the lead in the 13th minute. Matteo Politano turned and turned down the right flank before sending in a cross for Spinazzola to volley home.
Napoli doubled its lead in the 33rd when Rrahmani headed Politano’s 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 the pitch in the 70th minute after the in-form winger went down with an apparent ankle problem, adding to the team’s already long injury list.
Published on January 4, 2026
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x208:751x210)/stormi-kylie-jenner-010526-1a-07bfeadeed67409eac6314ae3ec422d4.jpg?w=238&resize=238,178&ssl=1 "Kylie Jenner comparte resumen de 2025 que incluye una foto de su hija Stormi, de 7 años")
