Nigeria international Fisayo Dele-Bashiru delivered a crucial assist as Lazio dismantled a ten-man Sassuolo 6-2 away from home on Tuesday, moving to the summit of Serie A with their best unbeaten start since the 1999-2000 title-winning season.

Dele-Bashiru entered the fray at half-time as a substitute, and his impact was immediate. He created Lazio's sixth goal, teeing up Tijjani Noslin — who completed his brace with a ferocious strike from the edge of the box in the 61st minute.

A chaotic first half

The match began at a breathless pace. Kenneth Taylor broke the deadlock after just two minutes, sweeping home following Gustav Isaksen's intercepted cross — though VAR deliberated for some time before confirming the goal.

Sassuolo hit back swiftly, with Kristian Thorstvedt equalising in the 7th minute after converting Josh Doig's pass first time to level at 1-1. Lazio then regained control in emphatic fashion: Isaksen made it 2-1 in the 13th minute, and Romano Floriani Mussolini — netting his first ever Serie A goal — added a third just two minutes later.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 31st minute when Thorstvedt, who had scored Sassuolo's equaliser, received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Mattia Zaccagni. Playing with ten men, Sassuolo reduced the deficit through Sebastiano Esposito in the 43rd minute to make it 3-2, but Zaccagni headed home on the stroke of half-time to restore Lazio's two-goal advantage at 4-2.

Lazio finish the job in the second half

Zaccagni missed a penalty five minutes after the restart, but Lazio showed no signs of relenting. Noslin curled in a fifth before Dele-Bashiru's assist set him up for the sixth, completing a comprehensive 6-2 victory.

It was a night of remarkable statistics — eight goals, a red card, and two missed penalties — as Lazio recorded their eighth win from nine matches this season.

The win lifts Lazio to 25 points, three clear of Inter, who face bottom side Venezia on Wednesday. It marks the first time since the 1999-2000 Scudetto-winning campaign that Lazio have gone nine games unbeaten to open a Serie A season.