Who Have Been Lazio’s Best Players So Far This Season? | OneFootball

There can be no denying that the first half of the 2024/25 campaign has been a stellar one for Lazio. The Aquilotti had relatively low expectations for the current campaign, especially following the departure of captain, talisman, and all-time top scorer Ciro Immobile.

The Italian hitman departed the Stadio Olimpico for a cut price of €2m in the summer after eight blistering years in which he bagged a whopping 207 goals in 340 appearances in all competitions. And he wasn’t the only big name to leave the club. Attacking midfielder Luis Alberto had long been the creative heart of the Laziali, but he too departed the Italian capital for the megabucks of Qatar, while respected manager Maurizio Sarri also departed toward the back end of last season.

Lazio’s Stellar Start

But despite all the changes, Lazio has managed to come out much improved from last season. They currently sit in fourth place in the Serie A standings and look on course to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League next term. They have also already secured qualification to the last 16 of the Europa League after winning five of their opening six league phase games. However, a recent defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Roma ensured that 2025 started off on a sour note.

The Derby della Capitale is one of the fiercest rivalries on the planet despite being overlooked in a recent report from a popular news and betting site. Canadian powerhouse Bodog News – a famed betting site in the Great White North – recently compiled a list of the planet’s best soccer rivalries and the Lazio-Roma showdown was overlooked in favor of the likes of Inter vs Milan and Barcelona vs Real Madrid. But the Laziale will have been happy to be somewhat out of the spotlight after their recent clash against the Giallorossi, slumping to a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the Eternal City.

Despite the defeat, Marco Baroni’s side is still in a good position heading into the second half of the campaign. And here are the players that have been responsible for much of his side’s success.

Taty Castellanos

Replacing the outgoing Immobile would be an unenviable task for anyone, not least for a man who bagged just six goals in 46 appearances in his maiden campaign in the Italian capital last season. However, since being moved into a central striking role at the start of the 2024/25 season, Taty Castellanos has been a revelation.

The Argentinian forward was brought in to bolster his side’s attack some 18 months ago, but it took him a full year to settle. Now, he finally has. He has top-scored for the Aquilotti so far this term, bagging nine goals in 23 games in all competitions as well as providing an additional five assists. His winner away at Lecce was one of the highlights of the season however, he will miss his side’s next couple of games following a red card in that recent derby day defeat.

Nuno Tavares

Nuno Tavares has transformed Lazio’s entire approach down the left-hand touchline. Signed on loan from Arsenal, the Portuguese full-back has been one of the most consistent performers in the squad at both ends of the pitch. He has proven to be a reliable defender, making a number of crucial tackles to keep his side in points-winning positions. But his blistering pace and ability on the ball have also ensured that he can be a threat on the counterattack, as demonstrated by a whopping eight assists, the most of anybody in Serie A this term.

Mattia Zaccagni

Following the departure of Immobile, Mattia Zaccagni was chosen by Baroni to inherit Lazio’s captain’s armband. The talented winger has been a revelation since arriving at the Olimpico from Hellas Verona in July 2022. Laziale paid some €7m to secure his services back then, a fee which raised eyebrows considering the fact that he was arriving from one of the worst teams in Serie A.

However, since then, he has proven his worth and then some. Last season was his finest set in the famous Sky Blue shirt, netting seven times in all competitions before going on to make a splash at Euro 2024. Zaccagni netted a stunning 98th-minute equalizer in the Azzurri’s final group game in Germany last summer, securing their progression to the last 16. And since then, he has gone from strength to strength.

Since being handed the captain’s armband, the 29-year-old has upped his game. He has bagged six goals in all competitions already this season, including a run of three straight scoring games in November. Since the most recent of those against Bologna however, he is yet to find the net, and he will be aiming to return to peak form in the next few weeks to ensure that his side’s season doesn’t run out of steam.