Napoli's title hopes took a significant hit as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Lazio, with Boulaye Dia's 87th-minute equalizer denying them all three points at the Stadio Olimpico. The result leaves the Serie A leaders vulnerable, as Inter could overtake them at the summit should they defeat Juventus in Turin on Sunday.
The draw continues Napoli's struggles against what manager Antonio Conte describes as their "bogeyman" in Lazio. Marco Baroni's side has proven to be a particularly troublesome opponent for Napoli this season, having already secured a 3-1 victory in the Coppa Italia last 16 and a 1-0 win in their previous Serie A encounter.
Speaking to DAZN after the match, Conte remained philosophical about the result, stating: "Lazio were our bogeyman, we must continue like this being proud of what we are doing and sweating through the shirt, just as we do every game." He emphasized the importance of viewing draws at the Stadio Olimpico as positive results, adding, "We must never forget where we started from, as today we stopped the bleeding, we could've been happier, but this is football."
The result marks Napoli's third consecutive draw in Serie A, adding pressure to their title defense. They will look to return to winning ways in their next fixture against Como, currently struggling under the management of former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The upcoming match will present an intriguing tactical battle between Conte and his former Chelsea player Fabregas.
Despite the setback, Conte maintains a positive outlook on his team's position, expressing pride in their "extraordinary" achievements thus far. "We try to do our best, not getting swept up in emotional aspects or other things. We know how hard we worked to get to the top of the table. Seeing the extraordinary things we are doing makes me proud," he concluded.
