Five Key Battles to Watch in Como vs Lazio: Can Dele-Bashiru Thwart Nico Paz? | OneFootball

This Sunday, Como and Lazio will lock horns at the Stadio Sinigaglia on the opening round of the Serie A campaign.

Curiously, the two clubs are coming off contrasting transfer campaigns, or more accurately, only one of them had a summer Mercato to begin with, as the Biancocelesti have been prevented from making any new signings due to a transfer ban. On the other hand, the Lombardians flexed their financial muscles to bolster Cesc Fabregas’ ranks with exciting young talents and savvy veterans.

Therefore, many believe that the gap between the two sides has been significantly reduced in a short amount of time. Hence, the player duels in this contest will be particularly interesting, as it will serve as an early indicator of how Maurizio Sarri’s men will cope against quality opposition.

So let’s take a closer look at the battles that could ensue between Como and Lazio players, at least based on the provisional starting lineups.

Marc-Oliver Kempf vs Taty Castellanos

Taty Castellanos endured a forgettable pre-season, as he failed to register a single goal in any of the club’s friendly matches. But since Boulaye Dia didn’t fare any better, the Argentinian should get the nod.

This will be an inviting opportunity for the 26-year-old to prove he can deliver when it matters, but he’ll have to go through an unpleasant duel against a no-nonsense German defender with significant experience in the shape of Marc-Oliver Kempf.

Alex Valle vs Matteo Cancellieri

Alex Valle is a 21-year-old left-back who rose through the ranks of Barcelona before joining Como in January. The Spaniard might be one of the rising stars in Calcio, but Matteo Cancellieri will be determined to make the most out of his starting berth.

The returning winger earned his place in the lineup thanks to a fabulous pre-season, but with Gustav Isaksen returning to the fold in the coming weeks, the Italian’s window of opportunity is not unlimited.

Nico Paz vs Fisayo Dele-Bashiru

Last season, Nico Paz was arguably the best revelation in Serie A, and the fact that he remains at Como is a testament to the club’s massive ambitions. The 20-year-old can operate in various roles, but this season, Fabregas could field him on the right side of the midfield trio, which would set up an interesting clash with Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

While the Nigerian cannot match the young Spaniard in terms of skills, he will try to bully him off the ball by utilizing his sheer physical strength.

Maximo Perrone vs Nicolo Rovella

In the dugout clash between Fabregas and his former Chelsea manager, Sarri, both teams will attempt to control the middle of the park and implement their own rhythm. Therefore, Maximo Perrone and Nicolo Rovella will have a pivotal role in swaying the favor one way or the other.

This might not be a direct clash, as both players could sit deep in their own areas for the bulk of the contest, but it remains a fundamental showdown, even from afar.

Alvaro Morata vs Mario Gila

Alvaro Morata will make his return to Serie A on Sunday. While it remains to be seen if he’ll be in the starting lineup or not, the former Juventus and Real Madrid star will certainly have a role to play against Lazio. The vastly experienced striker will square off against his compatriot, Mario Gila, who will be the Aquile’s bona fide leader at the back in the absence of Alessio Romagnoli.

This will be a stern test for the 24-year-old against his national team captain, while the young Oliver Provstgaard will also have to prove he can hang with the big boys.