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The mood at the Stadio Olimpico was decidedly gloomy during the weekend fixture. The Biancocelesti found themselves behind against Torino, a side that had allowed 10 goals while scoring only two in their last five league matches. Ultras from the Curva Nord were wrapping up their ongoing dissent in an ongoing feud with club owner Claudio Lotito.

This Year's Efforts Falling Apart?

Was Lazio's season falling apart, or was there ever a binding element maintaining its structure from the beginning? The club brought back Maurizio Sarri as head coach in the summer transfer window, only for him to later acknowledge that the board had not mentioned the transfer ban they were set to be hit with for fiscal problems. Speculation that he might quit were without basis, but he acknowledged that Lotito had "deceived" him.

The Roman club appeared equally disorganized on the pitch as they were off it, defeating Verona 4-0 and Genoa 3-0 but falling short in the remaining opening fixtures, including the Rome derby. From one game to the next, it's been difficult to determine if progress is being made or imploding.

Matteo's Unforeseen Return

At least one man remained positive amid the chaos. Matteo Cancellieri was not even supposed to be at Lazio this year. He was on the last one at Parma as a loanee and, during the summer break, his parent club were pushing for him to remain there a while longer. The registration embargo forced a rethink. Lazio could not afford to thin their squad without replacements.

He joined originally under Sarri's first spell, back then just 20 years old product of Verona's academy. He accumulated 20 league appearances in Lazio colors in that campaign, all but one of those coming off the bench. Their former sporting director, Igli Tare, whose tenure ended at the end of that season, would later accuse Sarri of "promising everyone Cancellieri had superstar potential only to bench him consistently."

Uncovering His True Position

It's possible the coach was continuing to attempt to determine the nature of the player's talent. Billed as a flank player when he joined, Cancellieri nevertheless spent much of that season as an ineffective backup to Ciro Immobile as center forward. In 63 appearances during spells with Empoli and Parma during recent campaigns, he netted seven goals. Shoehorn