There may be no denying that the primary half of the 2024/25 marketing campaign has been a stellar one for Lazio. The Aquilotti had comparatively low expectations for the present marketing campaign, particularly following the departure of captain, talisman, and .
The Italian hitman departed the Stadio Olimpico for a discount of €2m in the summertime after eight blistering years by which he bagged a whopping 207 targets in 340 appearances in all competitions. And he wasn’t the one massive identify to go away the membership. Attacking midfielder Luis Alberto had lengthy been the inventive coronary heart of the Laziali, however he too departed the Italian capital for the megabucks of Qatar, whereas revered supervisor Maurizio Sarri additionally departed towards the again finish of final season.
Lazio’s Stellar Begin
However regardless of all of the adjustments, Lazio has managed to return out a lot improved from final season. They at present sit in fourth place within the Serie A standings and look heading in the right direction to safe a spot within the UEFA Champions League subsequent time period. They’ve additionally already secured qualification to the final 16 of the Europa League after successful 5 of their opening six league part video games. Nonetheless, a latest defeat by the hands of arch-rivals Roma ensured that 2025 began off on a bitter notice.
The Derby della Capitale is likely one of the fiercest rivalries on the planet regardless of being neglected in a latest report from a preferred information and betting web site. Canadian powerhouse – a famed betting web site within the Nice White North – not too long ago compiled a listing of the planet’s finest soccer rivalries and the Lazio-Roma showdown was neglected in favor of the likes of Inter vs Milan and Barcelona vs Actual Madrid. However the Laziale may have been comfortable to be considerably out of the highlight after their latest conflict in opposition to the Giallorossi, slumping to a disappointing 2-0 defeat within the Everlasting Metropolis.
Regardless of the defeat, Marco Baroni’s aspect continues to be in a great place heading into the second half of the marketing campaign. And listed below are the gamers which were accountable for a lot of his aspect’s success.
Taty Castellanos
Changing the outgoing Motionless can be an unenviable activity for anybody, not least for a person who bagged simply six targets in 46 appearances in his maiden marketing campaign within the Italian capital final season. Nonetheless, since being moved right into a central putting position at the beginning of the 2024/25 season, Taty Castellanos has been a revelation.
The Argentinian ahead was introduced in to bolster his aspect’s assault some 18 months in the past, however it took him a full yr to settle. Now, he lastly has. He has top-scored for the Aquilotti to this point this time period, bagging 9 targets in 23 video games in all competitions in addition to offering an extra 5 assists. His was one of many highlights of the season nonetheless, he’ll miss his aspect’s subsequent couple of video games following a pink card in that latest derby day defeat.
Nuno Tavares
Nuno Tavares has reworked Lazio’s complete strategy down the left-hand touchline. Signed on mortgage from Arsenal, the Portuguese full-back has been some of the constant performers within the squad at each ends of the pitch. He has confirmed to be a dependable defender, making quite a lot of essential tackles to maintain his aspect in points-winning positions. However his blistering tempo and talent on the ball have additionally ensured that he is usually a risk on the counterattack, as demonstrated by a whopping eight assists, probably the most of anyone in Serie A this time period.
Mattia Zaccagni
Following the departure of Motionless, Mattia Zaccagni was chosen by Baroni to inherit Lazio’s captain’s armband. The gifted winger has been a revelation since arriving on the Olimpico from Hellas Verona in July 2022. Laziale paid some €7m to safe his companies again then, a charge which raised eyebrows contemplating the truth that he was arriving from one of many worst groups in Serie A.
Nonetheless, since then, he has confirmed his price after which some. Final season was his best set within the well-known Sky Blue shirt, netting seven occasions in all competitions earlier than happening to make a splash at Euro 2024. Zaccagni netted a surprising 98th-minute equalizer within the Azzurri’s remaining group sport in Germany final summer time, securing their development to the final 16. And since then, he has gone from power to power.
Since being , the 29-year-old has upped his sport. He has bagged six targets in all competitions already this season, together with a run of three straight scoring video games in November. Since the newest of these in opposition to Bologna nonetheless, he’s but to seek out the web, and he will likely be aiming to return to peak kind within the subsequent few weeks to make sure that his aspect’s season doesn’t run out of steam.