Lazio 0-0 Napoli: Star-shy giants play out goalless draw in Serie A with top four hopes in balance

Lazio and Napoli suffered in the absence of their star forwards as they played out a 0-0 stalemate at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Ciro Immobile and Mattia Zaccagni were suspended for the hosts, while Napoli’s long list of absentees included the strike partners who fired them to last season’s Serie A title, Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Chances were few and far between on a night where both sides had the opportunity to claim a big scalp in the top four race, but the result leaves Lazio two points off fourth and Napoli four points off the coveted UEFA Champions League spots.

Lazio winger Gustav Isaksen was the only player to provide any spark in a drab first half, sending two shots from good positions over the bar and requiring some close attention from Napoli’s five-man backline when he got the ball at his feet.

Things livened up after the break, with Taty Castellanos having a sensational overhead kick finish ruled out for offside before another dangerous effort by the Lazio striker was cleared by Leo Ostigard.

Danilo Cataldi sent a daisy-cutter inches wide for the hosts, while Gianluca Gaetano volleyed wide and Piotr Zielinski sent a free-kick off target in rare efforts for a Napoli side looking short on ideas in attack.

Although Lazio were without Immobile and Zaccagni, their side was far less depleted than the visitors, who were vulnerable after a poor run of two wins in seven games and shorn of their most potent attacking weapons.

This was a chance for the Aquile’s summer signings, Isaksen and Castellanos, to make their mark in a big match after so-so seasons so far, but they couldn’t find a way past Napoli’s defensive wall.

Their failure continued a season-long theme - only eight teams have a worse goal return than Lazio’s record of 24 in 21 games this term.

It was a night for the defenders, and the Lazio centre-back put in an authoritative display to shut down the Napoli attack, while causing some problems from set pieces at the other end too.

Lazio: Provedel 6, Lazzari 6, Gila 7, Romagnoli 7, Marusic 6; Guendouzi 7, Cataldi 6, Alberto 6; Isaksen 7, Castellanos 6, Anderson 7. Subs: Pellegrini 6, Pedro 6, Vecino 6, Rovella 6

Napoli: Gollini 6; Ostigard 7, Rrahmani 7, Jesus 7; Di Lorenzo 6, Demme 6, Lobotka 6, Zielinski 6, Rui 6; Politano 6, Raspadori 5. Subs: Gaetano 6, Ngonge 6, Mazzocchi 6, Lindstrom 6, Dendoncker 6

46’ CASTELLANOS SCREAMER RULED OUT! Mere seconds into the second half, Castellanos races after a long ball, pops it up with his chest and sends an overhead kick over Gollini and into the bottom corner! It's a sensational finish, but the flag goes up for offside and it won't count. A moment of real quality regardless.

76’ LAZIO CHANCE! Nice move from Lazio, as Isaksen sprints away into space down the right, but his cut-back is behind Castellanos and the striker can't much power as he tries to drag it in with his heel and Ostigard clears.

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