Something felt different at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday afternoon. Not just the scoreline — though Napoli's 2-0 win over Lazio was emphatic enough — but the manner in which Antonio Conte's side suffocated the life out of their hosts from the opening whistle.
Leonardo Spinazzola, facing his former employers, opened the scoring in the 13th minute after latching onto a clever delivery from Matteo Politano. The Lazio faithful fell silent. By the 32nd minute, when Amir Rrahmani rose to head home a second — again from Politano's boot — it was over as a contest.
What followed, however, turned the affair into something altogether more combustible. Three red cards in the closing stages — Tijjani Noslin picking up a second yellow, then Pasquale Mazzocchi and Adam Marusic dismissed after a touchline altercation — left Lazio finishing with nine men and plenty of questions about discipline.
"I have to congratulate the lads," Conte said afterwards. "It's not easy to demonstrate such a level of technical skill and physical strength while not letting Lazio play. We showed a very high level of play."
The Neapolitan coach wasn't finished: "Perhaps we lack a little selfishness because we create a lot of chances, but I'm really happy considering everything that has happened to us with injuries and unavailable players."
Napoli, fresh off their Supercoppa Italiana triumph over Bologna last month, now sit second with 36 points, breathing down the necks of leaders Milan.
Gasperini's homecoming turns sour
The fixture list can be cruel. Gian Piero Gasperini spent nine transformative seasons at Atalanta, turning a provincial club into a European force. His summer departure for Roma was supposed to herald a new chapter. But football has a habit of scripting uncomfortable reunions.
Giorgio Scalvini's early header — bundled home from a corner in the 12th minute — proved the difference at the Gewiss Stadium. Atalanta thought they had doubled their advantage when Gianluca Scamacca found the net midway through the first half, but VAR chalked it off for offside after a lengthy review.
Roma pushed for an equaliser that never came. A win would have lifted them level on points with Inter; instead, they remain stuck alongside Juventus in the pack chasing the top three. Gasperini will face questions about his tactical approach, but the reality is simpler: his former club simply wanted it more.
Turin's penalty curse continues
At the Allianz Stadium, Juventus were the architects of their own frustration. Dominating for long stretches against relegation-threatened Lecce, they somehow found themselves trailing at half-time.
The goal was almost comical in its construction. Andrea Cambiaso's pass to Pierre Kalulu fell short, allowing Lameck Banda to pounce, beat two defenders, and fire into the near corner. First-half stoppage time, against the run of play. Classic.
Weston McKennie's equaliser after the break — his first league goal of the campaign — seemed to restore order. Then came the penalty. Mohamed Kaba handled in the area, and Jonathan David stepped up with a golden opportunity to complete the turnaround.
He missed. Central. Weak. Wladimiro Falcone saved comfortably.
The Canadian striker had another chance late on, but Falcone denied him again. Kenan Yildiz struck the post deep in stoppage time. The final whistle felt like a betrayal.
Lecce celebrated a vital point; Juventus were left to ponder another home disappointment. They sit fourth, level on 33 points with Roma, but the gap to the summit grows.
Around the grounds
AC Milan kept their title charge on track with a workmanlike 1-0 win at Cagliari, Rafael Leão providing the only goal on 50 minutes. The Rossoneri remain top with 38 points, though their lead over Napoli and Inter has been trimmed.
Como continue their impressive adaptation to top-flight football, beating Udinese 1-0 at home through a Lucas Da Cunha penalty. They're just four points off the European places — quite the story for a newly promoted side.
At the other end, Genoa and Pisa shared the spoils in a relegation six-pointer. Lorenzo Colombo's thunderbolt for Genoa was cancelled out by Mehdi Leris before half-time. Neither side could afford to lose; neither could find a winner.
Fiorentina's goalless draw with Cremonese will worry their supporters. This is a team that should be pushing for Europe, not scrapping for draws against promoted opposition.
Inter's late kick-off against Bologna at San Siro closed the weekend programme. Cristian Chivu's side, defending champions in waiting according to some, face a test against Vincenzo Italiano's men — who knocked them out of the Supercoppa on penalties just weeks ago.
The title race tightens
With the winter window opening and the African Cup of Nations looming, the next few weeks will reshape the Serie A landscape. Milan hold the advantage for now, but Napoli's clinical efficiency and Inter's game in hand make this a genuine three-way contest.
Conte's men have momentum. The question is whether they can sustain it when the schedule intensifies.
"Now we have to play every three days, with virtually no opportunity for rotation," Conte admitted. "We hope we won't pay the price for using the same players."
A warning shot, perhaps. Or simply the reality of competing on multiple fronts in January.
