How Did Maurizio Sarri’s First Lazio Reign Begin? | OneFootball

How Did Maurizio Sarri’s First Lazio Reign Begin? Heading into the summer, there was plenty of excitement swirling around the Stadio Olimpico thanks to the return of manager Maurizio Sarri after a 15-month sabbatical. The maverick manager is considered one of the best Italian bosses in the game, with his 2020 Scudetto with Juventus – still the club’s most recent – and a 2019 Europa League triumph with Chelsea underscoring his credentials. However, his first few months in charge have been difficult ones. Lazio have endured a painfully slow summer.

The Biancocelesti were in dire need of additional firepower after falling out of top-four contention throughout the second half of last season. Unfortunately, the reinforcements have not come, with the only signings this summer being the permanent captures of five players who were on loan at the club last term. As such, online sports betting sites can’t see success coming to the Laziali in the 2025/26 campaign.

Lazio’s Up-and-Down Start

The latest online Serie A sports betting odds currently price Lazio as a 5/1 outsider to finish in the top four this season. To put that into perspective, the likes of Como and Bologna both have shorter odds. And much of that is down to the capital city outfit’s questionable start to the season.

Cesc Fabregas’ Como were one of the surprise packages last season, finishing in 10th place in the table in their first Serie A season in 21 years. They spent big in the summer to secure the signings of Jesús Rodríguez, Nicolas Kuhn, and Martin Baturina, making Lazio’s visit on the opening day of the season a stern test. Unfortunately for the Laziali, it was one that their team would fail miserably. Como ran out 2-0 victors, with the visitors having just one shot on target and just 36% possession.

The Biancocelesti did bounce back on matchday two. They welcomed Hellas Verona to the Olimpico in a game that already looked like a must-win. Luckily, Lazio got the job done handily, emerging as 4-0 winners thanks to goals from Matteo Guendouzi, captain Mattia Zaccagni, Tati Castellanos, and Boulaye Dia. However, after returning from the international break on what should have been a high rather than a bitter low, they suffered a painful 1-0 defeat to Sassuolo away from home, leaving Sarri and the Biancocelesti with just three points after the first three weeks…

With Sarri’s second stint in charge now a couple of months in, let’s take a look at how his previous reign started, and what Lazio fans can expect in the coming weeks and months.

The Coup

It was seen as quite the coup when Lazio announced that Maurizio Sarri would be the club’s new manager in June 2021, one year removed from his leading Juventus to the Scudetto. The Biancocelesti had just finished sixth in Serie A, somewhat of a disappointment considering their run to the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Even so, the Italian boss was inheriting a squad that was considered one of the strongest in the league.

Star players such as all-time top scorer Ciro Immobile, Sergej Milinković-Savić, and Luis Alberto were all still at the peak of their powers, and there was a real hope that Sarri could take Lazio to the next level. He strengthened in his first transfer window in charge, bringing former Chelsea star Pedro to the Olimpico, as well as bringing Felipe Anderson back from West Ham United, and signing current club captain Mattia Zaccagni from Hellas Verona.

Sarri managed to hit the ground running, bursting out of the blocks with back-to-back victories in his opening two games. Lazio beat Empoli 3-1 away from home on the opening day, before thumping Spezia 6-1 a week later courtesy of a first-half hat trick from Immobile. However, after the international break, the alarm bells started ringing.

Lazio went three games without a win in the immediate return to domestic matters, losing 2-0 away at Milan before back-to-back draws against Cagliari and Torino. Then, on matchday six, it was time for Sarri’s first Derby della Capitale, and what a game it was. The Biancocelesti were the hosts for the first derby of the season, and they would race into a two-goal lead against arch rivals Roma, only for the Giallorossi to tie things up at 2-2. Then, deep into the second half, Felipe Anderson found the winner, making Sarri a hero overnight.

Rest of the Season

Throughout the rest of that maiden campaign, Lazio’s inconsistency ultimately cost them. They found themselves down in 9th place in the table at the campaign’s midway point, but improved form throughout the second half of the season saw the capital city side power their way up the standings. Ten wins throughout the second half of the campaign, as well as creditable draws against the likes of Juventus and Atalanta, ultimately meant that Lazio would finish in fifth place in the table, six points shy of a Champions League return.

The following season, Sarri took Lazio all the way up to second in the table, the club’s best finish since they were crowned champions back in 2000. The morale of the story, then, is quite simple. Give the maverick boss time, and he will deliver the goods to a Laziali faithful that continues to grow impatient.