Keita Balde was destroyer in chief for Lazio as they battered Sampdoria 7-2 in a one-sided Serie A encounter.
After opening the scoring in the third minute, the writing was on the wall for the visitors as early as the 19th when centre-back Milan Skriniar was shown a straight red card.
The resulting penalty saw Ciro Immobile grab the first of his two goals and though Karol Linetty pulled one back before half-time, the game was as good as over by the break.
Wesley Hoedt, Felipe Anderson with the second spot-kick of the match and Stefan de Vrij put Lazio in a commanding 5-1 lead with 45 minutes still to play.
As might've been expected the game fell a little flat, but Senad Lulic and Immobile, again, midway thorough the second period, brought up the seventh.
Fabio Quagliarella's late double for the 10 men reduced the margin of victory, but it was a real statement of intent nevertheless from Simone Inzaghi's side, who consolidate their fourth position in the table.