The atmosphere at their home stadium was far from happy during the weekend fixture. The home side was losing against Torino, an opponent that had allowed 10 goals while netting just two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with chairman Claudio Lotito.
This Year's Efforts Unraveling?
Was the team's progress unraveling, or did there exist a thread keeping it intact from the beginning? Lazio reinstated Maurizio Sarri as manager during the off-season, before he admitted that the management had omitted to inform him about the transfer ban 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 during matches as off the field, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other initial five matches, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if they are improving or imploding.
Cancellieri's Unexpected Return
One individual kept smiling amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio during this campaign. He completed last season at Parma as a loanee and, early this summer, Lazio were advocating for him to remain there a while longer. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. The club couldn't risk to reduce their roster lacking backup options.
Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old alumnus of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances for Lazio in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who left following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri would be a star only to bench him consistently."
Uncovering His Natural Fit
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the nature of his skill set. Labeled as a wide forward when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile in the striker role. During 63 outings during spells with Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
