The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, a side that had let in a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
A Season Falling Apart?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or was there ever any cohesion holding it together in the first place? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as head coach during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the club had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that his departure was imminent were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "misled" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or collapsing.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
At least one man kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the last one with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban forced a rethink. They were unable to thin their squad with no new signings.
He signed initially during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in 2022-23, the vast majority of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended following that term, subsequently claimed Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star then never playing him."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as a flank player on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
