Lazio beat 10-man Monza to join Inter on 16 points at Serie A summit

Lazio joined Inter on 16 points at the top of Serie A after beating Monza 3-1 on Sunday, while Roma were held to a goalless draw at Como. The Guardian reported that Gennaro Gattuso's unbeaten side recorded their fifth victory in six league matches, matching Inter's points total after the Milan club defeated Parma 3-0 at San Siro on Saturday.

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Nuno Tavares put Lazio ahead in the third minute, and Gustav Isaksen added a second goal midway through the first half. Monza's task became harder in the 35th minute when Lorenzo Lucchesi was sent off for bringing down Tijjani Noslin as the Lazio player advanced towards goal. The dismissal left the visitors trying to recover a two-goal deficit with ten men.

Monza nevertheless made Lazio work for the result after the interval. The visitors, who were 16th in the table, reduced the deficit and threatened to draw level despite their numerical disadvantage. Lazio eventually scored their third goal late in the match to secure the victory. It completed a successful afternoon for the hosts, whose early advantage had not prevented a second-half challenge from Monza.

Roma's visit to Como ended without a goal, the first such draw of the Italian league season, according to the Guardian. Donyell Malen, the league's leading scorer, was dismissed early in the second half for a dangerous tackle. Roma were consequently forced to play with ten men, and neither side managed the breakthrough that would have turned a single point into three.

Speaking to DAZN, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini said the dismissal had changed his team's approach, requiring them to concentrate on defending. He praised the organisation of that defensive effort and accepted the draw in the circumstances. The result left Roma two points behind both Inter and Lazio after the two leaders won their respective matches against Parma and Monza.

Elsewhere in Serie A, Bologna beat Lecce 2-1 to record their first league win of the campaign. Lazio's victory and Roma's draw were the key results at the top, with Gattuso's team maintaining their unbeaten start while their city rivals finished the day further behind on points.