Five Key Battles in Lazio vs Cagliari: Dia Draws Unpleasant Dance Partner | OneFootball

At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Lazio have an inviting opportunity to register their fourth win of the season when they host Cagliari on Monday.

From a historical standpoint, the numbers tell the story of a one-sided affair, with the Biancocelesti winning 17 of the last 20 meetings, while the Isolani haven’t prevailed in this fixture since 2013, when Lazio let their guard down on the final day of the season.

Nevertheless, all these records vanish when the contest kicks off, as the outcome will be determined by the 22 men on the pitch, and the battles that will ensue between them. So let’s take a closer look at five key duels we expect to ensue on Monday.

Alessio Romagnoli vs Sebastiano Esposito

Francesco Pio Esposito might be the fastest-rising star in Italian football, but his older brother, Sebastiano, is no slouch either. Although he doesn’t possess the imposing physical attributes and natural finishing of his younger sibling, the Cagliari man is a versatile attacker capable of causing havoc in the final third with his slick movement and clever touch.

Therefore, Alessio Romagnoli must remain on his toes when dealing with the Inter Milan youth product, who occasionally cuts from the right wing into the box.

Manuel Lazzari vs Riyad Idrissi

Riyad Idrissi has emerged as one of the revelations of the Serie A campaign. The 20-year-old is a Cagliari youth product who returned to the club in the summer after a brief but impressive loan stint at Modena, and has now cemented himself as a regular starter in Fabio Pisacane’s starting lineup.

The left wing-back can be a menace when darting down the wing with sheer tenacity and pace. Hence, he could be a thorn in the side for Manuel Lazzari, who might be instructed to avoid making too many runs forward and leave spaces behind him for the youngster to exploit.

Matteo Guendouzi vs Michael Folorunsho

Although he’s been covering more ground than anyone else in the team, Matteo Guendouzi has yet to hit his stride this season. Perhaps he’s missing Nicolo Rovella’s presence by his side, as the two midfielders had formed an excellent understanding last term.

On Monday, the Frenchman could lock horns with Michael Folorunsho, a Lazio youth product who was close to rejoining the club last January. This will be a thrilling midfield contest between two energetic box-to-box players.

Mattia Zaccagni vs Gabriele Zappa

The Lazio captain hasn’t been as decisive as the fans would have expected this season, so this could be the right opportunity to remind the world why he remains the team’s go-to player. Zaccagni will be up against Gabriele Zappa, a 25-year-old who is originally a full-back, but has gradually morphed into a third central defender.

The Cagliari stalwart might have the upper hand in terms of pace, but the Biancocelesti skipper can prevail thanks to his trickery and experience.

Boulaye Dia vs Yerry Mina

While Serie A has its fair share of ‘dark-art’ masters, Yerry Mina is arguably at the top of the pile. If you’re a striker in Italy’s top flight, the Colombian is the one defender you wouldn’t want to cross paths with.

The 31-year-old’s gamesmanship tactics begin with some well-accustomed pushing and shoving (even off the ball), but also include back-scratching, non-stop trash talk, and even laughing in the opponent’s face when missing the target.

Therefore, the already struggling Boulaye Dia could be in for a long night, unless he manages to stun the former Everton star by scoring an early goal.