Lazio Club Focus: International breakage and an untimely slip

Date: 29th October 2015 at 2:34pm
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Lazio have not been the most fortunate side on the Peninsula this season as injuries have plagued their campaign so far, Mike Lazar looks at the Biancocelesti’s injury woes.

biglia injury lazio

Usually the term “break” is looked upon fondly, as an escape that will remove any stress from a difficult situation. Or, if you’re Lazio, that word looks a lot uglier when used in the context of the most recent international break.

These moments of respite for some have turned into nightmares for the Biancocelesti, who were instead once again dealt a demolition to the core of the squad through the recent injuries of midfielders Marco Parolo and Lucas Biglia.

Biglia’s month long absence earlier this season proved to be a massive moment of adversity for a side that continues to fight on a domestic and European front, so the Biancocelesti faithful will be relieved that his most recent setback is not a prolonged, as he showed them what they would miss with a sublime free kick to give Lazio the lead at Atalanta.

lazio atalanta

Along with weeks of expected absence for Parolo’s industrious work rate and occasional goalscoring, this team will once again need to find the answers from within to get ahead.

This is not the first time Stefano Pioli has been dealt the unluckiest of cards to cope with, as the void left by Stefan De Vrij is far from patched since the Dutchman suffered his own episode of international injury woes in September.

Maybe it’s no surprise that the influential centre-back’s absence eventual led to the Oranje missing out on their ticket to a spot at EURO 2016 in France because Lazio have certainly missed him as well.

A return to Serie A for a challenge in Reggio Emilia against a formidable Sassuolo side included the return of the Neroverdi’s protagonist Domenico Berardi, who made the most of his return to the limelight to expose the Aquilotti’s new frailties.

An equal start to the match between both clubs was quickly extinguished when Paolo Cannavaro went to ground inside the penalty area after an approach and challenge from Senad Lulic was adjudged to be a foul, even though subsequent replays looked far from conclusive.

The ensuing goal from Berardi’s spot kick was only the tip of the iceberg of frustration on Sunday, as Danilo Cataldi’s struggles to cope in midfield were plain as day.

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The 21-year-old looked out of sorts throughout the proceedings, resorting to shirt pulling and elbowing his way towards two yellow cards and a sending off after being bossed around by Francesco Magnanelli and Simone Missiroli for 90 minutes.

Miroslav Klose’s presence looked positive for attacking options, but only Antonio Candreva seemed capable of delivering any promising crosses to the starved German, and Sergej Milinkovic Savic was even denied by the crossbar during his admirable fight for an equalizer.

Although, Stefano Pioli’s secret weapon substitute Keita Balde showed again what his astounding ability can do to alter the match after his confidently created assist for Felipe Anderson. Yet, this remained the only bright spot before the Aquile slipped with the 2-1 loss.

Fans have every right to scream about these unlucky and unfair happenings, but Lazio have been here before.

Thankfully the upcoming Europa League clash with Rosenborg is at home, because just the 2-1 victory against the lowly Hellas Verona remains as the sole away win this season.

Only a win will do to once again defy the odds and stun the onlookers.

 

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