Lazio sit 8th in Serie A, a position that mirrors a season marked by inconsistency. The team show brief sparks but fail to build real momentum, and the top sides have already broken away.
This is reflected on major betting sites, where Lazio are no longer viewed as part of the title race. The leading clubs are too far ahead, and the numbers confirm it. Even so, Sarri believes the squad can climb, and the club is preparing targeted January signings to stabilise the campaign.
Amid the turbulence, three players have stood out- Mattia Zaccagni, Matteo Cancellieri, and Taty Castellanos – each offering a glimpse of what Lazio can still become in 2026.
Mattia Zaccagni: Lazio’s Left-Side Livewire
Mattia Zaccagni played the start of the 2025-26 season like a man determined to drag Lazio forward by himself. He scored 3 goals, hit 13 shots on target, and completed 40 progressive dribbles. Every time Lazio needed energy, he stepped into the moment. His work in the left channel stood out immediately; he lived in that corridor, pulling defenders out of shape and forcing mistakes.
Zaccagni also delivered 15 passes into the box, a number that showed how often he created danger without needing spectacular movements. His heatmap painted the picture perfectly, a red-hot strip down the left wing that rarely cooled off. When Lazio needed someone to lift the rhythm, Zaccagni gave them a spark, a dribble, or a driving run.
And this is the part that excites the club for 2026: he now understands how to control games, not just influence moments. If he builds on last season’s aggression and decision-making, Lazio gains a winger who not only threatens opponents, but also guides the team’s entire attacking flow.
Matteo Cancellieri: The Young Winger Who Refuses to Stay Quiet
Matteo Cancellieri entered the start of the 2025-26 season as a developing winger. He finished 2025 as one of the squad’s most talked-about prospects. He scored 3 goals, produced 6 shots on target, and completed 8 progressive dribbles, strong numbers for a young wide forward still shaping his identity. But the story went deeper than raw data.
Cancellieri’s Sense of Space score of 85 summed up the kind of player he became. He attacked pockets of space before defenders noticed. He drifted inside, he switched flanks, he carried the ball with purpose. His heatmap showed activity all over the pitch, especially in advanced left-side and central areas, where he linked play and accelerated transitions.
He also created 1 big chance, a small number but a sign of what is coming. The timing of his movements, the angles he chose, and the confidence he showed under pressure all pointed toward a winger who grows stronger with every match.
For 2026, Lazio looks at Cancellieri as a breakout candidate. He has the raw pace, the instinct, and the unpredictability to turn matches upside down. If he finds consistency, he becomes one of the most important players in the squad’s long-term rebuild.
Taty Castellanos: The Striker Who Does Everything Up Front
Taty Castellanos played the start of the 2025-26 season with a clear message: he is more than just a finisher. He scored 2 goals, produced 3 assists, and registered 9 shots on target. He dropped deep, he linked play, he created danger, and he did it in a way that forced defenders to constantly adjust.
He also created 1 big chance and initiated 12 dangerous attacks, numbers that showed how often he sparked Lazio’s forward momentum. Castellanos completed 3 progressive dribbles, moved between lines, and pulled centre-backs away from the zones they wanted to protect.
Those details matter. They reveal a striker who reads the pitch like a playmaker, not just a penalty-box poacher. Lazio sees that intelligence as a major part of its future. Castellanos gives the team flexibility, movement, and a link-up quality that shapes the entire structure of attacks.
Heading into 2026, the club expects him to take another step. His base is strong. His understanding of space is strong. And his ability to elevate the players around him might be his most valuable trait.
The Trio That Sets Lazio’s Future Tone
Zaccagni brings the fire. Cancellieri brings the spark of youth. Castellanos brings the glue that holds the attack together.
Their past numbers already told the story:
- Zaccagni drove the left wing and created chances at will.
- Cancellieri stretched defenses with movement and intelligence.
- Castellanos linked attacks and added creativity from the striker position.
Together, they offer Lazio something the club has missed in recent years: a clear attacking identity. If each player grows at the pace shown last season, Lazio enters 2026 with a trio capable of shaping matches, unsettling opponents, and giving supporters a genuine sense of momentum.
These three aren’t just important players. They are the foundation of what Lazio wants to become.
I rather belive it is Zacaggni, Noslin, Rovella and Gila/Provstgaard