The feeling at Lazio's home ground was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, an opponent that had allowed a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Fans from the Curva Nord were finishing their most recent demonstration in a long-running conflict with president Claudio Lotito.
The Campaign Coming Unstitched?
Was Lazio's season unraveling, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, but then he publicly stated that the club had failed to disclose a registration embargo they were facing for financial irregularities. Speculation that his departure was imminent were not true, but he did say that Lotito had "deceived" him.
The Biancocelesti were just as chaotic on the pitch as behind the scenes, overcoming Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but losing their other first five games, which included the capital clash. Throughout this period, it's been difficult to ascertain if progress is being made or imploding.
Matteo's Surprising Comeback
One individual kept smiling throughout. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this season. He spent the previous campaign at Parma as a loanee and, at the start of the off-season, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there temporarily. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad lacking backup options.
He signed originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old graduate of Verona's academy. He made 20 Serie A appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, the vast majority of those from the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential then never playing him."
Discovering His True Position
It's possible the coach was still trying to work out the exact type of his skill set. Originally described as an attacking winger upon signing, Cancellieri nevertheless spent the majority of that term as a struggling deputy to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings on loan at Empoli and Parma in the past two years, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn
