Lazio go top of Serie A after six-goal victory over 10-man Sassuolo

Lazio moved to the summit of Serie A after beating 10-man Sassuolo 6-2 in a remarkable match on Tuesday, with Nigeria international Fisayo Dele-Bashiru providing an assist.

Dele-Bashiru started the game among the substitutes but was brought on before the second half began as Lazio secured their eighth victory in nine matches and maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

The visitors took the lead after only two minutes when Kenneth Taylor finished from Gustav Isaksen’s cross, which had been intercepted. The goal was subject to a lengthy VAR review before it was eventually awarded.

Sassuolo responded four minutes later. Kristian Thorstvedt met Josh Doig’s pass first time to equalise in the seventh minute and make the score 1-1.

Lazio regained the advantage through Isaksen in the 13th minute, and they extended it two minutes later when Romano Floriani Mussolini scored his first Serie A goal.

The match changed significantly in the 31st minute when Thorstvedt, who had scored Sassuolo’s equaliser, was dismissed with a straight red card for a dangerous challenge on Mattia Zaccagni.

Sassuolo reduced the deficit shortly before half-time, Sebastiano Esposito making it 3-2 in the 43rd minute. Lazio restored their two-goal lead on the stroke of half-time, however, as Zaccagni headed in a cross to put the visitors 4-2 ahead.

Zaccagni missed a penalty five minutes into the second half, but Lazio continued to dominate against the side playing with 10 men.

Tijjani Noslin then produced a curling finish to make it 5-2 before Dele-Bashiru set up the forward for his second goal in the 61st minute. Noslin’s powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area completed the scoring and sealed a 6-2 victory.

The game featured eight goals, a red card and two missed penalties.

Lazio now have 25 points and sit three points clear of Inter, who travel to bottom club Venezia on Wednesday.

The result also means Lazio have avoided defeat in their opening nine Serie A games for the first time since the 1999-2000 season, when they last won the Scudetto.