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The feeling at their home stadium was anything but joyful during the weekend fixture. Lazio were trailing against Torino, a team that had conceded a total of 10 goals while scoring only two in their most recent five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were concluding their latest protest in a continuous dispute with chairman Claudio Lotito.

The Campaign Falling Apart?

Had their campaign falling apart, or was there ever a binding element keeping it intact in the first place? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri to lead the team during the off-season, only for him publicly stated that the management had failed to disclose the transfer ban they were about to receive for financial irregularities. Reports that he could resign were without basis, but he stated that Lotito had "swindled" him.

The Biancocelesti appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as behind the scenes, beating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in their other opening fixtures, featuring the derby della Capitale. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to tell if progress is being made or collapsing.

Matteo's Unexpected Return

At least one man continued to smile amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri had not been expected to feature for Lazio this year. He spent the previous campaign on loan at Parma and, during the summer break, his parent club were advocating for him to stay there for another season. The registration embargo forced a rethink. They were unable to reduce their roster without replacements.

Cancellieri arrived initially when Sarri was last in charge, then a 20-year-old product of Verona's academy. He recorded 20 Serie A appearances with the club in that campaign, the vast majority of those as a substitute. The club's longtime sporting director, Igli Tare, who departed following that term, would later accuse Sarri of "informing all Cancellieri was destined for stardom only to bench him consistently."

Finding His Natural Fit

Perhaps the manager was continuing to attempt to identify the specific characteristics of the player's talent. Labeled as a wide forward upon signing, Cancellieri instead found himself the majority of that term as an unconvincing alternative to Ciro Immobile at No 9. During 63 outings while playing for Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn