Lazio’s return from the international break has begun with a reminder that the league leaders will need to rediscover their sharpness before Sunday afternoons resume. A 3-3 friendly draw with Juve Stabia at Formello gave Gennaro Gattuso minutes for players left at the training ground, though the coach accepted that the work of recent days was visible in his side’s performance.
Gattuso said his players had struggled after three demanding days, with tired legs leaving the team short of its usual clarity. Lazio were also without eight important members of the squad, but he stressed that the value of the session lay in continuing the work properly rather than drawing conclusions from a friendly result.
The coach is nevertheless eager for the full group to return. Lazio have been apart for 20 days, with several players away on international duty, and Gattuso said he wants to resume work with everyone available and build again from the level the side had reached before the pause.
A strong opening, then a difficult restart
The Biancocelesti completed their opening five Serie A matches with 13 points, remaining unbeaten and sharing top spot with Inter and Roma. It has been an impressive early return, but the interruption has inevitably altered the mood around Formello. Gattuso admitted that some of the early-season adrenaline has eased during the break, even if those involved with their national teams have gained useful match minutes.
He has remained in contact with the internationals while they have been away. The only concern concerns Gudmundsson, with Gattuso describing Lazio as unfortunate over the player’s situation and expressing hope that he can be recovered as soon as possible.
Lazio return to Serie A action on 11 October, when Monza visit the Olimpico. Gattuso has made clear that Ivan Juric’s side will not be treated as a convenient fixture after the break. He described Monza as opponents who play without fear and said Lazio must approach the match with care.
For Gattuso, the warning is straightforward: Monza bring energy and physical strength, and any team that fails to match their intensity can quickly be put under pressure. Lazio’s first task after a promising start is therefore not to protect the league position in abstract terms, but to recover the tempo and discipline that carried them through the opening weeks.
