Lazio welcomed Napoli to the Stadio Olimpico for a top of the table clash in Serie A.
Vladimir Petkovic's third-placed side were looking for the win to close the gap between themselves and their opponents to just three points.
Napoli, on the other hand, were desperate for all three points to stay in touch with league leaders Juventus, who had moved six points clear with a comfortable 2-0 win over Fiorentina earlier in the day.
Lazio began the better of the two sides and their dominance paid off on 11 minutes when Sergio Floccari made it 1-0. The home side could have gone in at the break with a much more significant lead after a poor defensive display from Napoli.
The second half saw Walter Mazzarri's side push for the equaliser and, after some thrilling end-to-end play, Hugo Campagnaro vollyed home to make it 1-1 on 88 minutes and secure a point.
Find out how all the action unfolded on Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good evening! Thank you for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Serie A clash between Lazio and Napoli.
We should have a real cracker of a game on our hands tonight. Two top of the table side battling it out for three points!
Let's kick things off with the team news...
Lazio: Marchetti; Konko, Biava, Dias, Radu; Ledesma; Candreva, Gonzalez, Hernanes, Mauri; Floccari
Napoli: De Sanctis; Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Gamberini; Mesto, Behrami, Inler, Hamsik, Zuniga; Pandev, Cavani
The big news for Lazio is the return of Hernanes, who goes straight into the starting lineup tonight. Sergio Floccari, who is in fine form, leads the line on his own with Miroslav Klose having been ruled out for two months with a knee ligament injury.
Title contenders Napoli start Goran Pandev against his former side, along with the attacking talents of Edinson Cavani and Marek Hamsik. At the back, Hugo Campagnaro has been chosen ahead of Miguel Angel Britos.
Napoli have been in fantastic form recently, having won five of their last six games. Lazio, on the other hand, have suffered two straight defeats in their last two Serie A games.
It's not all been doom and gloom for Lazio, though - they did knock Juventus out of the Coppa Italia in between those results!
Petkovic will be desperate to get his side's league form back on track - a chance to get themselves in the race for the title, even? They will only be three points behind Napoli with a win tonight!
It's a tough ask to get back on track when Napoli are your opponents, it has to be said. Walter Mazzarri's side have been ruthless in recent weeks!
It's a difficult one to call tonight, there's so much to play for. If I had to make a decision, I'd go for Napoli to shade it - they'll be driven by the Juventus result earlier!
Not long until we kick off here at the Stadio Olimpico...
And we're off!
CHANCE! Lazio go close through Hernanes! The Brazilian takes a shot from distance and it just goes wide. An early threat from the home side, there.
Napoli make their first break forward of the game and Pandev was very close to being played in on goal - cut out well by the Lazio defence.
Both sides are trying to feel their way into this game. Neither have really got a hold of the ball in the midfield area for a prolonged period.
CHANCE! Morgan De Sanctis inexplicably throws the ball to Candreva, but the Napoli defence recover to close down the chance.
GOAL! Lazio 1-0 Napoli (Floccari)
The ball is crossed to Sergio Floccari by Konko and the striker finds himself with time to chest in down and slot it past De Sanctis to make it 1-0.
The Napoli defence have been all over the place so far in this game and they were nowhere near Floccari for that goal.
You have to say that the home side deserve their lead, they've attaked with real intent so far in this game. Napoli are yet to get Cavani and co in the game - they've been very quiet so far.
CHANCE! Candreva strikes a free kick from distance and De Sanctis fumbles his save - close, again!
SUBSTITUTION! Mauri is replaced by Lulic. The Lazio captain picked up an injury when he went to retrieve the ball and slipped. A strange one, but Lulic is now on the field.
Marek Hamsik tries to play Cavani in on goal, but the Uruguayan just cannot get on the end of it. It's been a frustrating opening 20 minutes for Cavani - he's barely touched the ball.
Campagnaro bursts forward and is brought down by Ledesma, who has taken the captain's armband since Mauri left the field.
Pandev wastes the free kick on the left-hand side as Lazio easily clear the ball away from danger.
YELLOW CARD: Mesto The Napoli man is booked for diving in the area under a challenge from Gonzalez. There were loud appeals for a penalty, but it looks as though the referee has got it spot on - a very flamboyant dive from Mesto!
CHANCE! Zuniga's shot from the edge of the area is pushed away by Marchetti into the path of Pandev, who delicately chips to Cavani at the back post - the striker just can't turn it in, though! Much better from Napoli.
Some patient play from Napoli as they try to find an opening. Walter Mazzarri's side seem to have calmed down now and are keeping the ball away from Lazio.
Poor again at the back from Napoli! Campagnaro puts the ball out for a corner when there was no Lazio player nearby. No communication between the goalkeeper and his defenders.
CHANCE! Floccari almost grabs a second goal! Napoli don't clear the ball, allowing the striker to pick up the ball and smash it off the bar from distance. De Sanctis was rooted to the spot!
Napoli simply haven't turned up so far tonight, especially at the back. Mazzarri will be hoping half time comes quickly as he needs to have a word with his players.
It's all Lazio, here! Candreva bursts down the right-hand side and crosses into the box, but Napoli just about clear.
CHANCE! Cavani hits the bar with a powerful header! Zuniga crosses to the Uruguayan, who has Marchetti beaten, though the ball does not cross the line on its way down.
That was the first sign of class we've seen from Napoli's forward line. Hamsik played a clever ball inside to Zuniga to set up the chance and Cavani was alert. They'll need more of that in the second half if they want to get back into the game.
Floccari is having a wonderful game for Lazio so far, leading the line and causing plenty of problems for Napoli's shaky back line.
There's a stoppage in play as Behrami goes down injured. The Swiss international wasn't challenged, but he does seem in real discomfort.
SUBSTITUTION! Behrami is stretchered off with the injury and replaced by Insigne.
Insigne's first act on the pitch is to give away a dangerous free kick for a handball. Hernanes stands over the ball...
Fantastic save from De Sanctis, who dives across his goal to keep out the Brazilian's effort.
HALF-TIME: Lazio 1-0 Napoli
A fantastic first 45 minutes of football at the Stadio Olimpico and Lazio probably deserve that lead on the balance of play.
Floccari has been fantastic up front for the home side, though the defending from Napoli for his goal - and throughout the half - was very poor.
Napoli simply did not turn up for the majority of that half. The front three of Hamsik, Pandev and Cavani have barely had a touch of the ball. Though, the Uruguayan did hit the bar with the side's only good move of the half! Give him chances and he will score - there's no doubt about that.
A lot of credit has to go to the way Petkovic has set up his side. Every time Napoli have the ball, Lazio are well organised and very difficult to break down.
Lazio have broke extremely quickly, too - using Floccari as the target man and supporting him well. Candreva, in particular, has got forward at every opportunity and really caused havoc down that right-hand side.
We're in for a huge second half now. You'd expect Mazzarri to get his men going for the second 45, but they just look susceptible to Floccari's movement up front.
Petkovic will be hoping for more of the same, but that Cavani header will be at the back of his mind - all it takes is one chance with this Napoli foward line and the game is changed.
Both sides are making their way out onto the pitch - we're almost ready to kick off again.
Napoli kick off the second half at Stadio Olimpico.
Free kick to Lazio after they pressed Napoli well to force them into a foul.
Seems to be more of the same so far in these early stages. Napoli are struggling to break down this well organised Lazio side and Petkovic's men are pressurising quickly.
Biava has the ball in the back of the net from the corner, but the goal is ruled out for offside by the linesman. Correct decision, but another warning to Napoli.
Cristian Ledesma has put in some shift for Lazio so far this evening, working very hard to close down any oncoming attacks from Napoli, but also finding the out ball to Floccari very well.
SUBSTITUTION! Mazzarri makes his second change of the evening, replacing Mesto with El Kaddouri.
Radu clatters into Pandev and earns himself a yellow card, though Napoli do nothing with the resulting free kick.
CHANCE! Inler strikes well from distance after a quick counter attack from Napoli. His effort goes just wide, but certainly worries Marchetti in the Lazio goal!
Napoli are starting to dominate this game now. Lazio have struggled to get hold of the ball in the past ten minutes or so.
Insigne plays Cavani in on goal, but the striker is flagged offside. His effort was well saved by Marchetti, anyway.
It's looking more and more likely that Lazio will need a second goal if they want to keep their lead and get anything out of this game. Napoli are continuing their pressure.
A wonderful gliding run from Insigne! The forward drifts past four Lazio players before being cynically brought down by Dias.
A late challenge from Campagnaro on Lulic earns Lazio a freekick, as well as a rest from the Napoli attack!
SUBSTITUTION! Lorik Cana comes on for Hernanes, who has tired as the game's gone on. The Albanian will definitely offer Lazio some extra defensive resistance against Napoli's forwards.
CHANCE! Another mix up at the back from Napoli as Campagnaro and De Sanctis fail to communicate and allow Lulic to nip in front to clip towards goal. The Argentine defender just about recovers to keep the ball out.
This second half has been all Napoli for the majority, but defensive lapses such as that mean that Lazio could easily wrap this game up at any point. It's finely poised, here!
SUBSTITUTION! Zuniga is replaced by Calaio, who makes his debut after signing for the club in January.
We're into the last ten minutes now - I think we can expect a Napoli onslaught! Can Lazio hold on for what would be an absolutely vital three points?
Napoli are being frustrated so far. Lazio are keeping hold of the ball well in these late stages.
Napoli are throwing everyone forward now as they look for a late equaliser. All hands to the deck for this Lazio side!
CHANCE! Inler's strike is pushed onto the bar by Marchetti! So, so close!
GOAL! Lazio 1-1 Napoli (Campagnaro)
And there it is! Campagnaro acrobatically volleys home for Napoli from the corner for his first goal of the season. It was coming!
SUBSTITUTION! Louis Saha comes on for his Lazio debut, replacing Gonzalez. A dream debut, maybe?
CHANCE! Floccari almost grabs a late winner! Candreva floats a ball into the box and the striker hits the bar with his header!
We've got a thrilling end here - it's Lazio who now attack in search of a winner!
FULL-TIME: Lazio 1-1 Napoli
Well, that was a fantastic game of football! Overall, a draw was probably a fair result, though I doubt either side will be too pleased.
Lazio dominated the first half, but Napoli certainly came back into game and fully deserved their equaliser.
It's Juventus who are the real winners tonight, though - they've extended their lead at the top of the table to five points.
Check out the full match report from Mark Langshaw here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole's live coverage tonight.
Written by
Sam Hughes
Sam Hughes
