Takeaways From Lazio’s Draw vs Milan: Belahyane Can Become a Starter | OneFootball

After squandering a two-goal lead, Lazio supporters were left disgruntled as their team allowed AC Milan back in the game.

In the end, the two sides settled for what can be described as a fair draw given how the game unravelled, with each team dominating the action for 45 minutes. It should also be remembered that if you had offered the Biancocelesti 10 points from the first four weeks, they would have bitten your hands off.

That being said, one might wonder why Gennaro Gattuso’s men produced their best 45 minutes of the season, only to be followed by an abysmal second half that brought back the uncanny memories of the Coppa Italia defeat to Mantova.

Why Lazio Lost Control of the Action

On the surface, it seemed that Ruben Amorim’s three half-time substitutes, particularly Diego Moreira, flipped the script in the Diavolo’s favour. Needless to say, the Portuguese manager had much more quality on his bench compared to Gattuso, and it proved vital on this occasion.

However, the Biancocelesti were also impeded by other factors, including tired legs after expending so much energy in the first half. The midfielders weren’t able to keep up with their Rossoneri counterparts, and the injury crisis meant that Gattuso didn’t have a fit central midfielder to introduce, instead replacing Kenneth Taylor with Albert Gudmundsson.

Moreover, Mattia Zaccagni suggested the team could have held up if they had been able to rely on the home support. But due to the ongoing protest against Lazio president Claudio Lotito, the Aquile fans were outnumbered on their own turf.

Reda Belahyane Seizing the Opportunity

While the midfield crisis pared down the department to the bone, Reda Belahyane has been making the most of the opportunity. The Moroccan has been at Formello for almost two years, but this is the first time he’s getting a consistent run in the starting lineup.

The 22-year-old doesn’t possess Nicolo Rovella’s natural ability to spray passes, and even Danilo Cataldi is technically superior. However, Belahyane interprets the Regista role rather differently.

Despite his diminutive stature, he has been excellent at shielding the backline, and he’s showing enough composure on the ball to avoid mistakes in delicate areas.

Belahyane’s defensive attributes are allowing more freedom for Taylor, Davide Fattesi, and, to a lesser extent, the full-backs to push forward, while knowing the team has an extra body to rely on at the back.

If the former Hellas Verona man continues to deliver the goods, he could give Gattuso a real selection headache when Rovella is back from injury.

Gattuso Has Four Solid Options at Centre-Back

Last season, Lazio were able to rely on one of the best defensive partnerships in Serie A. But despite losing Mario Gila and Alessio Romagnoli, the management was arguably able to improve the department as a whole by adding three solid centre-backs in the form of Danilho Doekhi, Josip Sutalo, and Diogo Leite, who have all impressed in their early outings in Rome.

Moreover, Oliver Provstgaard is growing stronger by the day, flourishing into one of the finest young defenders in the league. Therefore, Gattuso could find it hard to choose only two in his starting lineup, which could also open the door to a back-three switch, should the team ever need one.

Lazio on Another Level with Healthy Nuno Tavares

Since the start of the season, Nuno Tavares has been rolling back time, evoking memories of his unstoppable run after joining the club in the summer of 2024. The Portuguese left-back’s momentum was then derailed by injuries, before enduring a rough campaign under Maurizio Sarri, who somewhat clipped his wings.

But this season, the 26-year-old looks fully fit once again, and he’s been paired with a manager who encourages him to drive forward as feverishly as possible. Tavares has thus responded by delivering superb displays, and he was arguably Lazio’s best player on the pitch against Milan, playing a vital role in both goals.

At this stage, we can only hope that the former Arsenal man avoids another injury ordeal, as his record and constant sprints put him at a high risk.

Albert Gudmundsson Lost in the Shuffle?

Gudmundsson might be one of the club’s most shrewd signings in recent years, but only if Gattuso can find him a suitable role. The head coach claims the Icelandic star can play as a false 9, a second striker, an attacking midfielder, or a winger, but he’s still coming across as an awkward fit in the 4-3-3 formation.

Too Early to Drop the Ball on Andrea Pinamonti

Lazio fans will complain that Lazio haven’t had a proper striker since their all-time leading goal-scorer, Ciro Immobile. Therefore, Andrea Pinamonti’s arrival was accompanied by high pressure. And since football fans tend to draw conclusions in record time, some are already labelling the 27-year-old a dud for failing to score in his first three appearances (lasting for a combined 95 minutes).

However, it should be remembered that the Italian centre-forward had little time to make an impact against Genoa (and he still forced a dangerous chance), then had a difficult task against Udinese’s ultra-physical three-man backline before suffering a slight knock, and finally, his introduction against Milan came at a time when Lazio were no longer pushing forward.

At the end of the day, there are no guarantees that Pinamonti will make it at Lazio (hence why Mauro Icardi is still looming in the shadows), but the former Sassuolo man deserves a proper chance before we pass a final judgement. And since he missed the entire pre-season, he might require a few months to fully acclimate himself to his new surroundings and grasp his role in the team.