How Lazio Will Line Up Against Mantova: Two New Signings to Start | OneFootball

On Sunday, Lazio will play their first competitive match of the season, when they host Mantova in the opening round of the Coppa Italia.

Lazio Preparing to Host Mantova in Coppa Italia

The contest will take place at a virtually empty Stadio Olimpico, as the organized Lazio fan groups will continue to boycott all home fixtures this season. Although the circumstances are far from ideal, Gennaro Gattuso will be excited to make his official debut in the dugout, and his starting XI should feature a couple of new faces.

Danilho Doekhi & Alfonso Pedraza Set for Lazio Debuts

According to La Lazio Siamo Noi, the manager will start with Christos Mandas in goal, with Oliver Provstgaard and Danilho Doekhi at the heart of the backline. The Dutch defender will be making his bow after joining the club on a free transfer, as will Alfonso Pedraza, who will start at left-back. Adam Marusic will complete the four-man defence.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru Gets the Nod in Midfield

In the middle of the park, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru will be given a chance to prove his worth before making way for new signing Davide Frattesi in the coming weeks. The Nigerian international will start alongside Nicolo Rovella and Kenneth Taylor.

Tijjani Noslin to Start on the Right Wing

Finally, Boulaye Dia will lead the backline, as Gattuso prefers him over Petar Ratkov, who, despite a positive pre-season, is still facing an uncertain future. The Senegalese striker will be flanked by his captain Mattia Zaccagni and Tijjani Noslin, who seemingly won his duel against Matteo Cancellieri.

The Lazio Absentees

Lazio will be without a host of players, beginning with Patric and Samuel Gigot, who have been struggling with injuries since the start of pre-season. Danilo Cataldi and Gustav Isaksen both underwent groin surgery in recent months, and will only return to training in the coming weeks.

Moreover, Nuno Tavares has yet to recover from the muscle problem he picked up early in the summer, while Gabriele Artistico is out with a slight calf injury.

Lazio Probable XI (4-3-3): Mandas; Marusic, Doekhi, Provstgaard, Pedraza; Dele-Bashiru, Rovella, Taylor; Noslin, Dia, Zaccagni.