Napoli 0-2 Lazio Player Ratings: Matteo Cancellieri 9.0/10 Opens and Seals Lazio's Stunning Win as Napoli's Title Hopes Take Damaging Blow

Nobody saw this coming. Lazio had shown absolutely nothing in the opening five minutes before Taylor's incisive cutback found Cancellieri waiting in the box, and his composed tap-in gave the visitors a lead that silenced the Maradona and immediately shifted the entire complexion of what had promised to be a comfortable Napoli evening. Lazio's first meaningful attack had produced a goal, and suddenly Sarri's struggling side had exactly the platform they needed.

Napoli responded with pressure and forced Milinkovic-Savic into a series of outstanding saves, the Serbian goalkeeper the sole reason his side didn't face a much greater deficit at the break. The clearest moment of let-off arrived when Zaccagni's 31st-minute penalty was brilliantly saved, before the Lazio captain blazed the rebound over the bar in a moment that could have completely changed the tie's momentum. Here are Sportsdunia's Napoli vs Lazio player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Cancellieri was the decisive performer on the night; his composed sixth-minute opener and energetic display throughout earned a well-deserved 8.7/10 rating in a display that gave Lazio the platform to produce one of their most impressive results of the season.
• Milinkovic-Savic's penalty save from Zaccagni in the 31st minute was the moment that kept Napoli's first-half hopes alive, but his heroics ultimately proved futile as a toothless second-half display from the home side failed to produce a single genuine response to Lazio's second goal.
• Napoli's collapse was as damaging as it was unexpected, a side that had won five consecutive Serie A matches before this fixture, generating just 0.36 xG across 90 minutes in a performance that raised serious questions about their ability to hold onto second place with the run-in approaching.

Lazio Player Ratings vs Napoli

Check out the Lazio player ratings vs Napoli.

Goalkeeper

Edoardo Motta - 6.5: Had a surprisingly quiet evening for a clean sheet away from home. He made the saves he was expected to make and commanded his area well. His distribution was a bit mixed, but overall, a solid performance without being truly tested.

Defenders

Alessio Romagnoli - 7.5: A rock at the heart of the defence. From our perspective, he was immense, making a staggering eight clearances. He read the game beautifully and was a calming presence when Napoli applied pressure. A proper leader's performance.

Nuno Tavares - 7.0: A bundle of energy down the left flank. He was solid defensively, winning his tackles and contributing to the clean sheet. He also offered an outlet going forward, though his final ball was sometimes lacking. A really disciplined display.

Manuel Lazzari - 6.5: Did his job effectively on the right side before being forced off with an injury. He was diligent in his defensive duties and supported the attack when possible. His evening was cut short, but he played his part.

Mario Gila - 6.5: Played for just over an hour but looked composed and assured. He was good on the ball, with an 88% pass accuracy, and recovered the ball seven times. A mature showing before being substituted.

Midfielders

Kenneth Taylor - 7.5: The creative spark for Lazio's opening goal with a clever assist. He worked tirelessly in midfield, drawing fouls and helping to break up Napoli's rhythm. His yellow card was the only blemish on an otherwise impressive outing.

Toma Bašić - 8.0: Scored a superb goal to kill the game off. His finish was pure class. Beyond the goal, he was excellent, creating three chances and boasting a 93% pass completion rate. He controlled the midfield for large parts of the game.

Danilo Cataldi - 6.0: A combative but slightly reckless performance. He picked up a deserved yellow card and struggled to impose himself on the game before being taken off. He did his bit defensively but was not a standout.

Forwards

Mattia Zaccagni - 5.5: A very strange game for the captain. He won the penalty but then produced a weak effort that was easily saved. He also missed another big chance, and his decision-making seemed off all night. A performance he'll want to forget quickly.

Tijjani Noslin - 7.5: What stood out to us was his relentless energy. He was a nightmare for the Napoli defence, winning the crucial penalty and constantly running the channels. His finishing was wayward at times, but his overall contribution was vital.

Matteo Cancellieri - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. He took his goal brilliantly and provided a clever assist for the second. But it was his work off the ball, with five interceptions and six clearances, that was truly exceptional. An outstanding all-around performance.

Substitutes

Patric - 6.5: Came on and helped see out the clean sheet. Did what was asked of him.

Boulaye Dia - 6.0: Missed a great chance but was a nuisance.

Oliver Provstgaard - 6.5: Solid and steady after replacing Gila.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Elseid Hysaj - N/A: Came on for the injured Lazzari.

Manager

M. Sarri - 8.5: His game plan was executed to perfection. He set his team up to absorb pressure and hit on the break, and it worked flawlessly. A tactical triumph against his former club.

Napoli Player Ratings vs Lazio

Here are the Napoli player ratings vs Lazio.

Goalkeeper

Vanja Milinković-Savić - 7.5: Napoli's best player by a country mile. His brilliant penalty save gave his team a lifeline they couldn't take. He made five saves in total and was let down by the defenders in front of him. Couldn't do anything about the two goals.

Defenders

Alessandro Buongiorno - 6.0: He had over 100 passes but struggled to cope with the speed of Lazio's counter-attacks. He was often caught out of position and looked uncomfortable against Noslin and Cancellieri. A difficult evening.

Mathías Olivera - 6.5: Saw a lot of the ball and was tidy in possession. He won most of his duels and made several tackles. However, he offered little going forward and was part of a backline that was breached too easily.

Sam Beukema - 6.0: Much like his defensive partner, he was comfortable on the ball but vulnerable defensively. He was dribbled past and struggled with the movement of the Lazio forwards. Not his finest hour.

Midfielders

Matteo Politano - 6.5: Looked like Napoli's most likely source of a goal. He was a willing runner and tried to make things happen, but his final product let him down. He was a threat but lacked the killer instinct.

Leonardo Spinazzola - 5.5: A very quiet game from the midfielder. He was largely anonymous and failed to make any real impact on the match before being substituted. A passenger for much of his time on the pitch.

Stanislav Lobotka - 4.5: A disaster of a performance. His clumsy challenge gave away the penalty, and he was booked for his troubles. He looked off the pace all game and was a liability in midfield. A day to forget.

Frank Anguissa - 5.0: Hooked at halftime, which tells you everything you need to know. He was completely ineffective in the first half, losing possession and failing to win his battles. A poor display.

Forwards

Scott McTominay - 6.0: He worked hard and tried to impose himself physically, but he offered very little in an attacking sense. He was playing an unfamiliar role and it showed. Lots of effort, but no real quality in the final third.

Kevin De Bruyne - 5.0: We had to check if he was actually playing. It's rare to see him so quiet. He was substituted at halftime after a ghost-like 45 minutes where nothing he tried came off. A truly baffling performance.

Rasmus Højlund - 5.5: Starved of service and completely isolated. He had just 17 touches all game, which is unacceptable for a starting striker. He looked frustrated and was unable to get into the game at all.

Substitutes

Alisson Santos - 6.5: Looked lively and hit the post. Offered more than the starters.

Eljif Elmas - 6.0: Tried to get on the ball but couldn't find a way through.

Miguel Gutiérrez - 6.0: Had little time to make an impact.

Giovane - N/A: Came on and got injured.

Pasquale Mazzocchi - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

A. Conte - 5.0: His team looked devoid of ideas. They had all the ball but no penetration. His halftime changes failed to have the desired effect, and he was completely out-thought by his opposite number. A bad day at the office.

Man of the Match

Matteo Cancellieri was man of the match.

Worst Performer

Stanislav Lobotka was the worst performer.