Conte Breaks the Sarri Barrier as Napoli Down Lazio in Rome
4 January 2026
Match Result and Significance
Napoli, under Antonio Conte, produced a valuable 2-0 victory over Lazio at the Olimpico, showcasing a decisive performance that keeps the title race alive in Serie A.
With this win, Napoli reached 37 points, moving up to second place, just one point behind league leaders Milan (38). Lazio stay on 24 points in ninth, a gap that leaves room for movement in the coming rounds.
Inter remain in third on 36 points, but Napoli will face Bologna tonight; a win would lift them to 39 and potentially return them to the summit depending on Milan’s results.
Historical Edge and Key Facts
Before today, Napoli had not beaten Lazio since September 2022, a stretch that included draws and defeats across Serie A and Coppa Italia fixtures.
Conte’s side also claimed his first coaching victory against Sarri in their careers, following Sarri’s previous two wins over Conte in their head-to-head spell.
Napoli’s win marks a watershed moment in their chase for the top spot and shifts the dynamic of the title race, at least for now.
Image credit: Getty/Goal
Punchline 1: If curses were on sale, Conte just bought them in bulk—Napoli now has a warranty on breaking long streaks. Boom.
Punchline 2: In football, some teams win with flair; Conte wins by turning stubborn defeats into a fresh start—call him the locksmith of Serie A.
