Lazio might be facing a selection crisis at the back, but Maurizio Sarri can at least resort to the services of Patric, who made a timely return to action.
New Emergency for Maurizio Sarri
As if a decimated midfield wasn’t enough for the manager, the Biancocelesti’s full-back department has now been pared down to the bones. On Monday, Sarri started with Adam Marusic and Luca Pellegrini in the 3-0 win over Genoa, but neither was able to finish the match.
Lazio Lose Luca Pellegrini & Adam Marusic to Injury
According to Il Messaggero, Pellegrini strained his lateral ligament, so he’s been ruled out of Saturday’s home fixture against Marco Baroni’s Torino. The same goes for Marusic, who hurt his flexor while providing the assist for Taty Castellanos’ goal. Lazio will be hoping to recover the duo after the international break.
Manuel Lazzari Has Recovered But Not Fully Fit
Luckily for Sarri, he resisted the temptation to drop Manuel Lazzari from the Serie A squad when he decided to reinstate Toma Basic, instead omitting Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. But while the experienced right-back has overcome his injury, he might not be fit enough to feature in this weekend’s contest, which leaves Nuno Tavares and Elseid Hysaj as the two natural options for the full-back slots.
Nuno Tavares & Elseid Hysaj Are Lazio’s Remaining Options
The source notes that the Portuguese star hasn’t played for 90 minutes since March, while we have to go back to January in the Albanian’s case. Therefore, Sarri and his collaborators are concerned about the situation.
Patric Will Offer Sarri Options at Full-Back
Nevertheless, the report believes that Patric could tend to Lazio’s wounds thanks to his versatility. The Spaniard is originally a central defender, but can also play as a full-back, particularly on the right side. The 32-year-old has only just returned from a long injury layoff, but his presence on the pitch will at least reassure Sarri, who is a longtime admirer of the Lazio stalwart.
