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The feeling at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Unraveling?

Was the team's progress coming unstitched, or did there exist a binding element holding it together to start with? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team this summer, before he publicly stated that the board had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he might quit were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.

The Roman club were just as chaotic on the pitch as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing the rest of their opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. From one game to the next, it has been hard to ascertain if they are improving or collapsing.

The Youngster's Unforeseen Return

A single player continued to smile through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to remain with Lazio this year. He spent last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his owning club were attempting to extend his stay a while longer. The transfer ban led to a change of plans. Lazio could not afford to weaken their team lacking backup options.

He signed originally during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The ex- sporting director, Igli Tare, who left at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential but then not selecting him."

Finding His True Position

It's possible the coach was persistently working to determine the specific characteristics of Cancellieri's abilities. Originally described as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for most of that campaign as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn