Eight out of nine in the championship and Europa League, all as a starter with the exception of the match against Dinamo Kiev on 25 September in which he remained on the bench. Among the certainties of coach Marco Baroni’s new Lazio there is a player who many believed would be leaving only this summer: Matteo Guendouzi. In the championship, above all, the French midfielder was always deployed from the 1st minute, being replaced only once on the first day against Venezia and in any case after 87 minutes of play characterized by his usual dynamism. In his 717 minutes in total this season he has already scored one goal, to be precise during the away match at Turin on 29 September.
In addition to these numbers, further demonstrating the importance of the former Marseille and Arsenal player in this team is the apprehension over the risk that he might miss the big match with Juventus on Saturday. A possible absence that raised the alarms in the Biancoceleste home, due to a stomp suffered during the match played with his France against Belgium in the Nations League on Monday evening. All this, following the decisive performance with a goal and an assist in the match against Israel four days earlier.
The latest signs are positive, although the final decision on its use will obviously be up to Mr. Baroni. In the meantime, Guendouzi underwent instrumental tests which fortunately excluded fractures to the little toe of his foot. He won’t necessarily be at 100% at the Allianz Stadium, but can this Lazio do without their curly-haired runner? The question rages on all Roman newspapers today, the answer will only arrive in the next few hours.