The mood at their home stadium was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had let in 10 goals while managing only two goals in their most recent five league matches. Supporters from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.
A Season Coming Unstitched?
Had their campaign unraveling, or was there ever any cohesion holding it together to start with? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager this summer, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had omitted to inform him about a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Rumours that he could resign were unfounded, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Biancocelesti became as messy in their performances as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other first five games, featuring the derby della Capitale. Throughout this period, it has been hard to ascertain if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Cancellieri's Unforeseen Comeback
At least one man remained positive throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to feature for Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster without replacements.
He joined in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in the 2022-23 season, almost all of those as a substitute. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, subsequently claimed Sarri of "telling everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Finding His True Position
Maybe Sarri was continuing to attempt to identify the exact type of his skill set. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent most of that campaign as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. In 63 appearances on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
