Lazio thrashed Sassuolo 6-2 away in the ninth round of the Italian Serie A, securing their eighth win in nine league matches. Managed by Gennaro Gattuso, the Rome side maintained their top spot on the table with 25 points. Gattuso's team remains unbeaten, and this marks Lazio's fifth consecutive league victory.
Lazio took the lead in the second minute through Kenneth Taylor, but Kristian Thorstvedt equalised five minutes later. Gustav Isaksen restored Lazio's lead in the 13th minute, and Romano Floriani Mussolini extended the advantage to two goals in the 18th minute. Thorstvedt was sent off in the 31st minute, and Sassuolo reduced the deficit to 3-2 through Sebastian Esposito in the 43rd minute. Mattia Zaccagni scored in first-half stoppage time.
In the second half, Tijjani Noslin scored twice, in the 56th and 65th minutes. Lazio missed two penalties – Zaccagni in the 50th minute and Davide Frattesi in the 61st minute. Before Sassuolo, Lazio had beaten Monza, Juventus and Parma, and had previously defeated Venezia, Genoa, Udinese and Bologna. Lazio's only dropped points came in a 2-2 draw with Milan.
Gattuso has turned Lazio into one of the biggest surprises in Italian football. The Rome club did not enter the season as a title favourite, yet after nine rounds they sit at the top of the Serie A. Italian media have particularly highlighted the intensity, aggression and unity of the team led by the temperamental coach. Gattuso is trying to calm the euphoria, insisting on humility and warning his players not to underestimate any opponent.
Gattuso is well known to the Croatian public for his spell at Hajduk. The Italian coach took over the Split club in the summer of 2024 and left after the 2024/25 season. Under his guidance, Hajduk was in the title race for much of the campaign but ultimately failed to win any trophies. The Split side were eliminated in the Conference League qualifiers, and Gattuso was unable to secure European competition qualification with Hajduk. Now, just over a year after leaving Split, he leads the Italian league with Lazio.
