Lazio pull clear at Serie A summit as Gattuso warns of vertigo

ROME: Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso warned his team not to get carried away after they surged three points clear of Inter Milan at the top of Serie A on Sunday with a 2-1 victory over Cagliari.

Lazio made a poor start as Cagliari took the lead through M'Bala Nzola in the 20th minute before goals in either half from Gustav Isaksen and Andrea Pinamonti gave them a sixth straight Serie A win.

With 28 points from 10 games, Lazio pulled clear of Inter after they lost the Milan derby. Unbeaten Roma sit third on 24 points and Como climbed back to fourth with a 1-0 win over rock-bottom Venezia.

Lazio last won Serie A in 2000 and this is the best start to a league campaign in the club's history, but the Roman outfit's ambitions remain modest according to Gattuso.

"Our target is to avoid relegation and we still need 12 more points," Gattuso said. "We need to get our heads down and work, and not look at the table."

Some Lazio fans aren't watching at all.

As has been the case in recent home matches, Lazio played in front of largely empty sections of the Stadio Olimpico, with many ultras and supporters continuing their boycott in protest against owner and president Claudio Lotito, whom they accuse of failing to invest sufficiently in the squad.

- JUVENTUS BREAK NAPOLI RESISTANCE -

Struggling giants Juventus got their fifth win of the season thanks to Bosnian wonderkid Kerim Alajbegovic producing a moment of magic.

The teenager broke the deadlock on 70 minutes with a thumping left-footed drive from outside the box.

Napoli were then reduced to 10 men as Luca Marianucci earned a second yellow for kicking substitute Jeremie Boga, who added a second goal with a strike that rivalled that of Alajbegovic.

That result lifted Juventus to seventh. Napoli are eighth and host leaders Lazio next weekend.

Como's victory at home over lowly Venezia on Sunday was a fifth consecutive victory across all competitions.

The hosts dominated, but needed a penalty to find the back of the net. Como captain Lucas Da Cunha converted in the 43rd minute for the French international's first goal of the season.

"This is the type of match we found hard to win last season," Da Cunha told DAZN.

Cesc Fabregas's side had slipped to fifth when AC Milan beat champions Inter 3-1 on Saturday.

Como moved one point behind Roma, who beat Udinese 5-2 on Saturday.

"This victory is really important in terms of our maturing process," said Fabregas.

"Our state of mind is irreproachable," added the 39-year-old Spaniard as Como prepare to resume their Champions League campaign against Lens on Wednesday.

Como have the best record of the Serie A clubs in the Champions League, sitting ninth in the 36-team standings, with six points from three games.--AFP