Lazio is undergoing a significant transformation as they bid farewell to key players and embrace a fresh start under new management. With Maurizio Sarri’s era now over, the club has parted ways with stars such as Luis Alberto and Ciro Immobile, making way for new faces. Marco Baroni, who led Verona to safety last season, has been appointed as the new head coach, and he comes with a squad made up of lesser-known players who were signed for modest fees.
The revolution at Lazio has been notable, with several notable departures including Felipe Anderson and Daichi Kamada. The club has welcomed five new key signings: Nuno Tavares, a left-back from Arsenal; Gaetano Castrovilli, a midfielder who was a free agent after leaving Fiorentina; Loum Tchaouna, a winger from Salernitana; Nigerian attacking midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru; and striker Tijjani Noslin from Hellas Verona, who was a product of Baroni’s coaching.
For fantasy football enthusiasts, pinpointing potential starters, penalty takers, and set-piece specialists has become more complicated compared to previous seasons, where Immobile and Luis Alberto were reliable picks. Analyzing Baroni’s coaching style over recent years, it may be prudent to initially focus on defensive players. Goalkeeper Ivan Provedel had a solid average rating of 6.36 last season, while Mario Gila showed significant improvement in the latter half of 2023-24, despite facing an early setback due to a toe injury.
In attack, Mattia Zaccagni stands out as the only guaranteed asset. Wearing the number 10 shirt and the captain’s armband, if he can stay fit, he has the potential to lead Lazio again.
Several new attacking signings offer exciting prospects for fantasy league players. Tijjani Noslin has already demonstrated his abilities under Baroni, scoring five goals in 17 appearances, including against teams like Juventus, Milan, and Inter. Similarly, Loum Tchaouna was a standout performer for relegated Salernitana, netting four goals. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru comes with impressive statistics from the Turkish league, boasting eight goals and five assists last season.
As Lazio prepares for their new campaign with a 4-2-3-1 formation, the expected lineup could look like this: Provedel; Lazzari, Gila, Romagnoli, Tavares; Guendouzi, Rovella; Tchaouna, Castrovilli, Zaccagni; Castellanos, with possible variations in positions leading to lively competition for starting spots.
In terms of penalties, Zaccagni, Guendouzi, and Rovella are expected to take them, while set-piece duties are likely to fall to Zaccagni, Tchaouna, and Guendouzi. As the season unfolds, Lazio fans and fantasy players alike will enjoy the thrill of discovering how these new signings contribute on the pitch.