Rome (AFP) – Having moved to the top of the Italian Championship without playing after the defeat of Inter Milan on Saturday, Lazio Rome hit the nail on the head on Sunday with its home success against Cagliari (2-1).

Published on: 01/11/2026 - 18:09Modified on: 01/11/2026 - 22:50

For the first time in sixteen years, Lazio occupies, alone, the chair of leader of Serie A. The Biancocelesti did not really set the stage for this return to the top: they were led by Cagliari and waited until the 83rd minute to win with a goal from Andrea Pinamonti, but their record since August and the confidence they display even when they are in difficulty, speak for them.

After this ninth victory for a draw, Lazio, whose second scudetto dates back to 2000, totals 28 points out of 30 possible, unprecedented in its history at this stage of the season.

Gennaro Gattuso's men are three points ahead of Inter Milan (2nd, 25 pts), the reigning Italian champion and leader before this 10th day which conceded its first defeat of the season against AC Milan (3-1) on Saturday, its fourth loss in a row in the Milan derby.

But the former AC Milan midfielder, whose arrival in Rome in July had aroused much skepticism after his failure to qualify the Nazionale for the 2026 World Cup, is still not ignited.

Maintenance objective for Gattuso

"We are 12 points short of achieving the objective that I set at the start of the season (guaranteed maintenance with 40 points, editor's note). We have to think game by game. It is better that my players and I do not look at the ranking, otherwise it will make our heads spin. We have to 'pedal' and work hard", insisted the 2006 world champion, whose career as club coach, at AC Milan (2017-19), Naples (2019-21) or Marseille (2023-24), was until then largely disappointing.

Before the international break, his team will pass another major test next Sunday, in Naples, vice-champion of Italy 2026 which is struggling to take off this season under the leadership of Massimiliano Allegri.

As in its previous home matches, Lazio played this match in front of the corners of the Olympic Stadium largely deserted by its ultras and tifosi, in open war against their owner and president Claudio Lotito who they criticize in particular for not investing enough in their team.

For its part, Como came through thanks to a penalty from Lucas Da Cunha of the red lantern Venice 1-0 to come back with its 23 points (4th) on the heels of Roma (3rd, 24 pts), winner 5-2 in Udine on Saturday.

Promoted Frosinone continues to surprise: after its victory against Torino, the modest Lazio club is 6th with 20 points, six more than Naples which fell to 8th place after its defeat at Juventus (2-0).

Juve, who suffered two defeats in the previous three days (3-0 at home against Lazio and 2-0 at Genoa), won thanks to Kerim Alajbegovic (70th) and Jérémie Boga (87th) to move back into 7th place, but eleven points behind Lazio.

© 2026 AFP

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