Three Things We Learned From Lazio vs Lecce: New Eagle, Same Lotito | OneFootball

On Sunday evening, Lazio bounced back in style, shrugging past Lecce by two unanswered goals at the Stadio Olimpico.

Matteo Guendouzi, who produced his best display of the season by far, broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, while Tijjani Noslin came off the bench in the final stretch to guarantee the result with a second goal.

While the final score might suggest a routine Autumn evening in Rome, the action, both on and off the pitch, has actually provided us with several interesting topics to tackle, including the following three.

Sarri-Ball Finally Back?

In recent weeks, we discussed how Maurizio Sarri managed to find it within him to abandon his tactical philosophy in favor of a more pragmatic approach, trading his possession-based football for a counter-attacking plan. This was particularly on display in the goalless draw in Bergamo.

Nevertheless, Sarrismo (also known as Sarri-ball) resurfaced on the scene against Lecce, with the Biancocelesti producing what was arguably their most aesthetically pleasing performance since the manager’s return to the club. The entire team looked on song, pulling off impressive passages of play, while launching a flurry of attacks. The 2-0 scoreline didn’t do them justice.

So, has Sarri well and truly restored his trademark playing style, or will he alternate back and forth between this inspiring brand of football and a more realistic approach based on the size of the opposition?

The following weeks should reveals the answer, especially with back-to-back contests against Milan around the corner.

Lazio Destined for Imperfection

After an eagle-less run caused by the despicable actions of Olimpia’s infamous falconer, Lazio have finally found themselves a new eagle in Flaminia, who made her first appearance at the Olimpico, accompanied by yet another controversial owner (apparently, finding a cordial falconer in Rome is more difficult than you think).

Italian football fans can be a superstitious lot. So thankfully, Flaminia’s debut wasn’t plagued by an ominous defeat. On the contrary, Lazio’s first signing of the season enjoyed a winning debut on Sunday.

But even with a solid result, inspiring performance, and a brand new eagle flying around the stadium, perfect Lazio evenings at the Olimpico are becoming an increasingly rare commodity. This time, the atmosphere was dampened by the absence of the Curva Nord ultras, who had gone on strike due to the incident that occurred during their tribute to Vincenzo Paparelli a few weeks back.

The organized supporters blamed Claudio Lotito and the rest of the hierarchy, while the president instinctively fired back at his detractors, as he often does. But in the end, it’s the club’s image and well-being that continues to pay the price for this never-ending standoff.

Tijjani Noslin Might Have a Role After All

When your manager admits he’s not sure where he’s supposed to field you on the pitch, it is seldom a good sign, but it probably means that your days at the club are numbered. And while this might be the case for Noslin, perhaps his late cameo against Lecce can give Sarri a hint on when and where he should play him.

The Dutchman has been described by the head coach as a versatile attacker who doesn’t excel at any role in particular, but his late goal against Lecce proves his pace and strength can be devastating in counter-attacks.

The 26-year-old might not possess Taty Castellanos’ composure in the final third, or Boulaye Dia’s tactical awareness and smart movement. Still, if Lazio starts with a low block, perhaps Noslin can do a job, especially late in the game when charging forward against tired legs.

That being said, an amicable divorce in January remains advisable.