A 1–1 draw with Serie A leaders Lazio gave Massimiliano Allegri some breathing room after the Napoli coach went into the match facing speculation over his future. The point, however, left his side well adrift of the frontrunners.
Davide Frattesi put Lazio ahead in the 28th minute at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, before an Alfonso Pedraza own goal in the 48th minute brought Napoli level on matchday 11.
Napoli had lost 2–0 to Juventus in Serie A and 4–1 to Porto in the Champions League, taking their tally to seven defeats in their first 14 competitive matches of the season. Three of those losses came in four European games. The draw with Lazio extended Napoli’s winless run to three matches in all competitions.
Before kick-off, Italian media reported that defeat could hasten Allegri’s dismissal during the international break. Speculation intensified after club president Aurelio De Laurentiis cancelled the coach’s press conference, though Il Mattino reported that the club had set no ultimatum tied to the result.
Napoli moved provisionally into 10th place with 15 points, while Gennaro Gattuso’s unbeaten Lazio stayed top on 29. The draw ended their six-match winning run and was only their second of the season, following a draw with AC Milan on matchday four.
Allegri made his case for more time after the match. “We have to keep going like this. There’s still plenty of time to turn things around,” he said.
“It’s not all over, as many people say. I’ve always managed to steer the ship safely into port,” he added.
“In the eyes of the fans, we’re only good when we win. But remember, we’re still in the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. We haven’t been knocked out of any competition.”
Napoli host Torino when Serie A resumes on 21 November, then visit Manchester City three days later. Those two games could determine whether the draw with the leaders marks the start of a turnaround or simply buys Allegri a little more time.
