The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was far from happy during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded 10 goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were finishing their latest protest in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist any cohesion holding it together from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had failed to disclose a ban on new signings they were about to receive for accounting issues. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he did say that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy during matches as off the field, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it has been hard to tell if they're getting better or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Comeback
At least one man kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri wasn't originally meant to remain with Lazio this year. He was on the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, early this summer, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to reduce their roster with no new signings.
He signed originally when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances for Lazio in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was persistently working to work out the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Originally described as a flank player upon signing, Cancellieri yet was deployed for the majority of that term as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances while playing for Empoli and Parma in the past two years, his tally was seven goals. Shoehorn
