Lazio come from behind to beat Cagliari 2-1 and go top of Serie A

Lazio come from behind

Lazio beat Cagliari 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Sunday, 1 November, and moved top of Serie A on their own for the first time this season. The win followed Inter's 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the derby on the previous evening, Saturday, 31 October, which left Gennaro Gattuso's side three points clear. Lazio now have 28 points, ahead of Inter on 25, AS Roma on 24 and Como on 23. It is the first time since the 2010/11 season, when Edy Reja was in charge, that Lazio have led the table alone. Gattuso's team have won nine of their ten league matches and drawn the other.

Cagliari take the lead

Cagliari, coached by Fabio Pisacane, scored first in the opening half-hour. M'Bala Nzola, who had also scored against Roma, finished after Alieu Fadera's pass caught the Lazio defence off guard. Lazio then struggled for long spells to find a way through the visitors' back line. Gustav Isaksen levelled in the 36th minute, striking from the edge of the box into the far corner past goalkeeper Caprile. It was Isaksen's fourth goal in his last five league games. Fadera had to be replaced by Kofler before the break because of an injury, and Fazzini hit the post for Cagliari just before the half-time whistle.

Pinamonti's winner

Mendy replaced Nzola at the restart. Lazio dominated the second half, and a Taylor free kick forced Caprile into a save. Provstgaard came close with a header from a Taylor set piece at the 68th minute. Around the 55th minute Gattuso made changes, bringing on Pinamonti for Zaccagni and Pedraza for Nuno Tavares. Dele-Bashiru went down in the area after contact with Rodriguez, and the crowd protested, but referee Colombo waved play on and VAR upheld the decision. Pinamonti headed in the winner in the 83rd minute after a wayward shot from Pedraza, his second goal of the season.

Cagliari down to ten

Cagliari's Obert was sent off in added time, leaving the visitors with ten men. Cagliari protested the winner, arguing that play should have been stopped after Deiola was struck on the head by a shot in the build-up. Fanpage reports that Deiola took a blow to the face and received treatment from the medical staff. Cagliari had come into the match on three consecutive defeats. It was their second comeback defeat in Rome in five days, following their loss to Roma, and they now sit 11th with 13 points.

Table and Frosinone

AGI reports that Lazio's conversion rate of 16.8% is the highest in the league. Elsewhere, Frosinone beat Torino 2-0 at home, with goals from Ghedjemis early in the second half and Calò in stoppage time. The win keeps Frosinone sixth, one point behind Milan, and it is their sixth victory of the season.

Lazio28

Inter25

AS Roma24

Como23

Lazio

28 points

Inter

25 points

AS Roma

24 points

Como

23 points

Data from the article text