Napoli 5-0 Lazio: Higuain at the double in easy victory

Napoli brought an end to their poor run of form in the first weeks of the season on Sunday when they hammered Lazio 5-0 in the Stadio San Paolo.

The Partenopei were on top from start to finish to record their first Serie A win of the campaign, having picked up just two points from their first three games.

While Gonzalo Higuain netted two and was a threat throughout, it was Lorenzo Insigne who was the star of the show. As well as his deadly dribbles and excellent passes, he set one up for Allan and scored another as he tormented the Lazio defence.

Substitute Manolo Gabbiadini capped off a fine team display later with a goal to compound Lazio’s misery.

The visitors’ back line was too easily stretched, but they offered nothing in attack as Napoli ran rampant from the opening stages.

The home side almost took the lead just five minutes in when Higuain found his way behind the back three to meet an Insigne through ball, but his attempt was knocked wide by Marchetti.

A few minutes later, Insigne caused havoc down the left flank, and sent a cross into the Napoli box. It was then flicked back to Allan whose shot was deflected past the post.

After some bright moves, Insigne almost carved out a chance for himself when he tore through the middle and unleashed a shot but sent it sailing over the bar.

Higuain made the inevitable breakthrough after a quarter of an hour when he beat Wesley Hoedt to the ball with his strength, taking it on and firing past Marchetti from outside the box.

Insigne continued to tear Lazio apart and he carved them open with a beautiful through ball for Allan, catching out the sluggish and poorly organised home defence. The midfielder collected it and blasted it home.

Moments later, Insigne was at it again. He collected the ball inside the box and was surrounded by three Lazio defender, but skipped past a challenge and hit a shot, only to see it diverted wide.

Insigne finally got his goal after just two minutes after the restart. Higuain stormed through Lazio and fired towards goal. Marchetti did well to save the Argentine’s effort, but Insigne was there to slot the rebound into the net.

Higuain added another goal for his side jut before the hour mark when he charged through and knocked it in for his second of the game.

The game slowed down afterwards, with Higuain and Insigne being withdrawn midway through the half.

However, substitute Gabbiadini latched onto a nice Allan pass and knocked it home for the final goal of the game.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic almost grabbed a consolation goal for his side as he headed down a corner, only to see it strike the post.