The mood at their home stadium was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed ten goals while managing only two goals in their previous five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with chairman Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever a thread maintaining its structure from the beginning? They reappointed Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him publicly stated that the club had not mentioned a registration embargo they were set to be hit with for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were not true, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.
The Roman club were just as chaotic in their performances as they were off it, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but being defeated in the rest of their initial five matches, which included the capital clash. At any given moment, observers have struggled to determine if progress is being made or self-destructing.
Matteo's Surprising Return
One individual kept smiling through it. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to be at Lazio this year. He completed last season with Parma on loan and, early this summer, his parent club were attempting to remain there for another season. The signing restriction led to a change of plans. They were unable to weaken their team lacking backup options.
He signed in the first place during Sarri's previous tenure, back then just 20 years old alumnus of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 matches in the league in Lazio colors in that campaign, almost all of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His Best Role
Perhaps the manager was still trying to determine the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as a wide forward on arrival, Cancellieri instead found himself much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma over the last two seasons, he scored seven times. Shoehorn
