The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a long-running conflict with club owner Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?
Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a thread holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about a ban on new signings they were facing for accounting issues. Speculation that his departure was imminent were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the rest of their first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if they're getting better or self-destructing.
Matteo's Unexpected Presence
A single player kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there temporarily. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team without replacements.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom but then not selecting him."
Uncovering His Best Role
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
