“It must be the maturity competition, it will be complicated but we know we have to face it with attention and presence, both physical and emotional”. Words and music by Marco Baroni a few minutes before Lazio’s last official match at the Olympic Stadium against Empoli. Having obtained the fourth consecutive victory in ten days between Serie A and the Europa League gave the Biancoceleste coach the answers he was looking for from his team. After a break that broke Lazio’s rhythm, the match in Turin represents a real graduation exam for a team that has chosen to live day by day, without setting clear objectives. “Objectives are not declared, but achieved” said president Lotito in recent days, obtaining a positive result also at the Stadium against Juventus would represent more than a simple declaration of intent in the race for Europe.
Two doubts for Baroni
The break brought back great enthusiasm to the players who were protagonists with their respective national teams, but it also caused a few too many aches and pains. The most delicate situation is that of Matteo Guendouziwhose foot worries. A broken little toe was averted for the former Marseille player, but his foot still hurts and yesterday the Frenchman only worked a few minutes without ever doing so with the team. Today’s finishing will be fundamental to understand whether he will be available or not, even if he is unlikely to start from the first minute. In his place there was a run-off between Vecino and Castrovilli, yesterday Baroni tried the former Bari and Fiorentina player, but the Uruguayan is impatient after having recovered from the fatigue he suffered against Nice. Even Boulaye Dia is not 100%, he only returned to Rome on Wednesday and yesterday he was rested and Pedro acted in his place as attacking midfielder. No alarms for the moment, but if the former Salernitana player is not seen again today then it would be difficult to consider Dia among the probable starters for Turin.