Lazio have reached the first pause of the Serie A season in a position few had predicted in the summer: level at the top with Roma and Inter, strengthened by three wins from three away matches and given time to breathe after a demanding opening stretch.
The coach and the club
Gennaro Gattuso has granted his squad complete rest until Friday, a decision shaped by both the results and the effort he has seen since pre-season began in mid-July. Lazio returned from Venice with another away victory, following successes in Bologna and Udine, while the visiting end at the Penzo was again sold out.
The coach had pressed the group hard throughout preparation, particularly through difficult summer conditions at Formello. After the match in Venice, he again credited his players for their commitment.
“I have been thanking the players often lately, and I will do it again,” Gattuso said. “It was a tough 50 days, with terrible heat in training, but they never gave anything less than everything.”
The league break will last three weeks, with Lazio’s next competitive fixture scheduled for 11 October, when Monza visit the Olimpico. Gattuso’s immediate task is to bring a fuller squad into that match while preserving the energy that has carried the side through the early rounds.
Recovery work at Formello
Dele-Bashiru, Marusic and Rovella are the principal injury concerns. Lazio hope all three will be available when Serie A resumes.
Dele-Bashiru was close to being included for the Venice trip, but the club chose not to take a chance on a possible muscle setback. Marusic and Rovella are both dealing with strains, and further scans will establish their precise recovery times.
The pause will also be used to build fitness for players who are not yet fully ready. Pinamonti and Cataldi are among them. Cataldi was on the bench against Milan and Venezia after spending the summer on an individual programme following surgery for pubalgia.
Lazio have arranged a friendly against Arezzo at Formello on Sunday, with kick-off set for 15:00. A further test is expected the following weekend, likely against another Serie B club.
The club has yet to announce whether supporters will be admitted to the training ground. On 28 August, two days before the home meeting with Genoa, around 1,000 Lazio fans watched a session at the Fersini pitch, although organised supporter groups were not present.
Eight players on international duty
Training resumes on Friday without the internationals. Eight Lazio players will leave for national-team commitments:
- Mandas
- Provstgaard
- Isaksen
- Sutalo
- Tavares
- Taylor
- Frattesi
- Gudmundsson
Some selections were expected, while others reflect the improvement shown in the first part of the campaign. Taylor has received a call from Xavi, while Tavares has been selected by Jorge Jesus. Both had missed Netherlands and Portugal squads for the World Cup.
They will return with additional minutes in their legs and, Lazio hope, renewed confidence. For Gattuso, the opening chapter has offered proof in both the squad’s physical response and its mentality; the next will depend on recovering bodies without losing the momentum that has made Lazio early leaders.
