Three things we learned from Lazio vs Parma as Sarri can solve two issues at once | OneFootball

Tijjani Noslin salvaged a point for Lazio at Parma, but the 1-1 underlined familiar flaws and fixable selection calls. According to The Laziali, the draw offered three takeaways on Sarri’s side, from low-block woes to choices on the flanks.

Enrico Del Prato struck early, then Sarri turned to Noslin after the break, replacing Pedro on the left. The Dutch forward levelled, again tormenting Parma after December’s last-gasp winner at the Ennio Tardini for nine-man Lazio.

Smaller sides have worked Lazio out. After three straight wins over top-half teams, they again laboured against 12th-placed Parma, creating only seven shots, four on target. They lean heavily on counterattacks, lack the guile to unpick compact defences, and have missed Nicolo Rovella, while upgrades over Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Reda Belahyane are badly needed.

Sarri’s insistence on using Daniel Maldini as a striker has not helped, and Pedro toiling wide at 38 has not worked either. The obvious fix is to move Maldini to the left and blood Petar Ratkov with little at stake in Serie A. Yet Sarri remains unconvinced by the Serbian, stressing he must adapt and learn the language before a bigger role.

Manuel Lazzari sparked the right flank after the interval, despite being reduced to a bit-part role behind Adam Marusic. Sarri has preferred defensively minded full-backs such as Marusic and Elseid Hysaj, and has argued that Nuno Tavares on the left demands balance. Lazzari will not solve everything, but he would add an extra cutting edge against packed defences.

Source: The Laziali