A resurgent force has beaconed from Italy’s capital last season. Lazio, under Maurizio Sarri, has clicked and pushed themselves to great heights, winning at the Armando Maradona, something not many clubs managed last season. During the opening 11 games, they only suffered one defeat and it was to eventual winners Napoli; in the process, they enjoyed comfortable wins against Inter (3-1), Fiorentina (4-0) and Atalanta (2-0).
The team finished the campaign in second place, overachieving with respect to the amount of money spent in previous years. The football on display was great, and the fans enjoyed every single minute of the season. The disappointment in Europe has been forgotten as Lazio played a part in one of the most extraordinary group stages of all time.
Manager Masterclass
After a disappointing spell with Chelsea, Maurizio Sarri’s stock plummeted, Italy is his safe space in which he thrives. The first season was as expected, no one suggested or hinted that Lazio should push for a top four place and they delivered on that expectation finishing fifth a handful of points behind Juventus. The summer transfer window followed, Lazio recruited players like Alessio Romagnoli, Nicolo Casale and Ivan Provedel, players who would prove crucial to the Champions League trajectory.
Sarri, a former banker, made a plan and managed to cultivate a special relationship between the players that would bear fruit on the pitch. Some impressive wins ensued, two Rome derbies, a comfortable dispatch of the reigning Champions Milan 4-0, as well as convincing results against Juventus and Inter.
The style of play is simple, pass and move, but it’s not as simple to master. Felipe Anderson and Pedro provided the pace on the wings, whilst the imperial Sergej Milinkovic-Savic controlled the midfield.
European trips
European competitions haven’t been successful for Lazio last season. Since they finished fifth in the previous season, they played in the UEFA Europa League and competed in Group F, against Feyenoord, Midjylland and SK Sturm Graz. In a peculiar event, all the teams won two games, drew two and lost the other two meaning all the teams finished off with eight points. It all went down to goal difference and Lazio had a negative goal difference which relegated them to the UEFA Europa Conference League.
In the Round of 16 they met with Dutch side AZ Alkmaar and they lost both home and away to identical scorelines of 2-1. The home game was unfortunate, but they paid the price of not taking their chances when they presented themselves. The only two shots on target that the away side had were scored and that concluded what looked to be a promising campaign in Europe for Lazio.
Future
Now that Champions League football is secured, the summer transfer window needs to be a relatively big one in terms of recruitment. Lazio has a very competitive team, but when it comes to the highest level they might be lacking in some departments. Holding onto the services of Milinkovic-Savic will be crucial, as his influence on the team is incredible. The only verified signing at the moment is Matteo Cancellieri, who came in from Hellas Verona for a reported fee of €8. More will follow in the coming weeks as Sarri tries to piece together a side that could be competitive in the Champions League, gaining the club crucial income.