Lazio in Full-Blown Midfield Crisis Ahead Napoli Double Header | OneFootball

After seeing their purple patch end at the Ennio Tardini, Lazio will have to negotiate two encounters against Napoli with a depleted midfield.

The Background

The Biancocelesti will host Antonio Conte’s men at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday in the Coppa Italia Round of 16, before returning the visit for a Serie A clash on Sunday. But as Il Corriere dello Sport (via La Lazio Siamo Noi) explains, Marco Baroni will have limited choices in the middle of the park, especially in the league fixture.

Lazio Suffering Major Injury Crisis

As the manager confirmed in his post-match press conference, Matias Vecino will be out of action for the next ten days. For his part, Gaetano Castovilli is still recovering from a meniscus surgery, so he could make his return in next week’s Europa League contest against Ajax.

The Return of the Outcasts?

Therefore, Baroni could call up primavera starlet Leonardo Di Tommaso for the Coppa Italia tie, while Toma Basic and Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro are available in the cup despite being omitted from the Serie A squad. The source expects Nicolo Rovella to start in midweek alongside one between Matteo Guendouzi and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, depending on their physical condition.

Nicolo Rovella Suspended

Nevertheless, the situation will be comprehensively more miserable on Sunday, with Rovella serving a one-match ban, thus leaving Guendouzi and Dele-Bashiru as the only available solutions for the double pivot. Pedro will be the favorite to start as an attacking midfielder in what will be a compulsory 4-2-3-1 formation.

Ill-Advised Summer Decisions?

As the Roman newspaper notes, this injury crisis brought to light some questionable decisions made by the club during the summer. Angelo Fabiani and Co. sent away Danilo Cataldi on deadline day without finding a proper replacement, leaving Baroni with only five midfielders covering six spots. The manager shrewdly found a solution by converting Boulaye Dia to an attacking midfielder, but even the Senegalese striker has been ruled out with a knock.