Lazio moved level on points with Inter Milan at the top of Serie A after beating 10-man Monza 3-1 at the Stadio Olimpico.
The victory also set a new club record, with Lazio winning five of their opening six league matches for the first time in their history.
They needed only three minutes to take control. Nuno Tavares collected the ball 25 yards from goal and struck a powerful left-footed shot into the top-right corner, giving the joint leaders an early advantage.
Monza briefly appeared to have responded when Gustavo Varela finished from close range after 20 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Lazio doubled their lead three minutes later. Tavares delivered an accurate ball into the penalty area, where Gustav Isaksen had been left unmarked. The Dane met it first time with his left foot and beat Noel Tornqvist.
Monza’s task became even more difficult 10 minutes before half-time when Lorenzo Lucchesi was sent off. The defender brought down Tijjani Noslin as the Lazio forward was running clear towards goal, receiving a straight red card shortly after Monza had seen a penalty appeal rejected.
Despite being down to 10 men, Monza reduced the deficit just 45 seconds into the second half. A corner was flicked into the path of Saba Goglichidze, who headed in from close range.
The visitors then threatened to complete a comeback. Samuele Birindelli narrowly missed the left post with a close-range attempt, before a deflected shot from Gustavo Varela’s position on the edge of the area looped just over the crossbar.
Monza were the more dangerous side for much of the second half and showed considerable resilience despite their numerical disadvantage. However, Lazio settled the contest with two minutes remaining.
Substitute Andrea Pinamonti finished from Alfonso Pedraza’s cut-back to restore the hosts’ two-goal advantage and secure all three points.
The result extended Lazio’s unbeaten record against Monza in Serie A to seven matches. Lazio climbed one place to second, level on points with leaders Inter Milan, while Monza remained 15th.
Tijjani Noslin was named Flashscore Man of the Match.