Lazio head coach Maurizio Sarri will be able to rely on his stalwart Alessio Romagnoli one last time against Lecce, but his midfield is once again pared down to the bones.
Lazio in a State of Turmoil
The Biancocelesti are in the middle of a major January overhaul, which many have described as a downsize. Taty Castellanos and Matteo Guendouzi were sold in the first week of the month, while Christos Mandas should soon follow suit by signing for Bournemouth. Moreover, Romagnoli has made it abundantly clear he wants to leave the club following a fiery confrontation with Claudio Lotito.
Alessio Romagnoli to Make One Final Lazio Appearance
The defender is expected to join Roberto Mancini’s Al-Sadd before the end of the month. But in the meantime, he will travel with the rest of the Lazio squad to Lecce, as revealed by Italian journalist Alfredo Pedullà. The Aquile will take on the Giallorossi in Saturday’s Serie A match at the Via del Mare, and the former Milan captain could be in the starting lineup for the final time.
Sarri Facing Midfield Dilemma Ahead of Lecce vs Lazio Clash
While Sarri looked to have temporarily resolved his defensive selections, the middle of the park is once again causing him a major headache. According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, Nicolo Rovella has been left behind. The 23-year-old has recently made his return to action following a four-month injury ordeal, but he’s still working on regaining his full fitness.
Nicolo Rovella & Danilo Cataldi Ruled Out
To make matters even worse for the manager, Danilo Cataldi will be serving a one-match ban, leaving him without a natural Regista. Luckily for Sarri, Toma Basic managed to recover from his slight muscle issue, so he’ll be deployed in a deeper role.
The club’s new signing, Kenneth Taylor, will keep his place in the lineup, while it remains to be seen if Matias Vecino will be fit enough to start. If the Uruguayan can’t make it, Reda Belahyane will get the nod. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru has recently returned from his participation in AFCON, but the Nigerian is in no condition to start.
In the attacking trident, Mattia Zaccagni will start on the left, while Petar Ratkov and Matteo Cancellieri are the favorites to maintain their spots ahead of Tijjani Noslin, Boulaye Dia and Gustav Isaksen.
Lazio Probable XI (4-3-3): Provedel; Marusic, Gila, Romagnoli, Pellegrini; Vecino, Basic, Taylor; Cancellieri, Ratkov, Zaccagni.
How can this be a wining team?… what hurts is that COMO have rebuilt better than lazio the supposed one of the giants of Italian football…
Lotito isn’t interested in building a winning team. He buys young discounted players who have high potential, then sells them once their value is highest. He rinses and repeats this strategy for capital gains.
It’s good enough to make Lazio at 6th-8th place team, with the ocassional CL appearances.
Sarri will be gone by the end of the season, which is why Lotito isn’t bringing in any new players yet as he will want to bring in players that the new coach wants.
I’m willing to give Taylor time, but man he looked terrible in the last game againt Como. Completely lost out there.
Hopefully all this chaos is the beginning of the end for Lotito. This is a complete disaster.
Or must be, but the fans have to leave the stadium empty, we are boycotting Lotito not Lazio
1- if Rovella is just not at the best fitness level why leave him behind? He can come on late like he did recently. I am very much afraid he had a relapse …
2- what do you mean Dele Bashiru can’t start? He should be ready to go, it’s not like he played full 90 minutes for Nigeria at Afcon
We should have Basic-Dele Bashiru-Taylor and for once Sari should playe 4 2 3 1, desperate moments ask you for a change, you simply can’t stick to your 433 EVERY TIME. Sarri needs to be in these urgent moments more flexible
Lotitos only saving grace has been his claim of balancing the clubs finances compared to others and obviously that wasn’t the case after the embarrassment last year (can’t recall any other teams who have suffered a similar transfer ban?)
So with that notion of him gone, a fire sale of not aging but quality young players (only in the hope of gambling on new even younger unproven players he’ll just yet again turnover before helping the club actually succeed) and now this with a vital experienced player who plays from the heart and gives the fans so much pride.. you’d have to say it’s actually the last straw.
What has to be done to actually get rid of this cancer of a president? Stuff his false ‘balancing the books’ and maybe hoping for a Europa spot every year – if that’s your intent than you’re not up for it and just sell you politician rat.