Lazio beat Parma 2-1 at the Olimpico and move clear at the top of Serie A

Lazio go top on their own

Lazio beat Parma 2-1 at the Olimpico in the eighth round of Serie A and move alone to the top of the table on 22 points. They are three points clear of Inter, who host Fiorentina in a lunch-time match on Sunday, 25 October, and four ahead of Roma, who were held to a 3-3 draw at Napoli. Parma, now coached by Gilardino, remain on 4 points.

A goalless first half

The hosts controlled the first 45 minutes without scoring, while Parma came closest through Romero and Touré. Lazio's Isaksen hit the crossbar late in the half and then saw a goal disallowed by the VAR for a marginal offside.

Taylor and Diego Carlos put Lazio ahead

Taylor opened the scoring in the 50th minute, when Belahyane's assist found him and he struck a left-footed shot past Corvi from close range. Frattesi came close to a second goal in the 52nd minute. In the 58th minute Nuno Tavares crossed from the left, and Diego Carlos slid in ahead of his own goalkeeper, sending the ball into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Late Parma goal

Parma pulled one back in added time through Simone Lontani, a former Milan player according to ANSA. His shot-cross struck the post and bounced along the line before the referee signalled that the ball had fully crossed. The assist came from Fabbian. The goal was Parma's first under Gilardino, but it did not change their position in the table.

How Lazio got there

Post-match analysis credits the collective rather than individuals, describing Frattesi as tireless, Zaccagni as experienced in his play and Isaksen as full of energy and quality. Lazio's leader Gattuso has built a side that defends compactly and plays with clear structure, and the result leaves them ahead of Inter and Roma after eight rounds.