Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri says his side could have soundly defeated Serie A rivals Lazio at the Stadio San Paulo on Saturday evening, if not for the surprise defensive tactics employed by the visitors in the 0-0 deadlock.
The highly-anticipated match featuring two of the top six sides in the league finished goalless, but a last-ditch effort from Napoli substitute Goran Pandev nearly stole all three points for the hosts.
After the match, Mazzarri firmly believed his team were superior and was dissapointed Napoli could not penetrate the Lazio defence.
"I told the guys they should have won 4-0, they played a phenomenal game," Mazzarri told reporters. "I do not remember any Lazio chances.
"We did not expect Lazio to play three [defenders]," Mazzarri added."We did not plan how to best attack their defence. So at half-time I explained new tactics and in the second 45 minutes we played much better.
"In the second half we did everything to win, but the ball didn't want to go in. Maybe in the future, we will win a game where we do not deserve the three points."Napoli provisionally sit in sixth position in the standings, seven points behind joint leaders Lazio and Udinese.
They host Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday.
