Lazio’s next step between league fixtures will take place away from public view. The club have confirmed that Sunday’s friendly against Arezzo, scheduled for 15:00 at the Fersini pitch in Formello, will be played behind closed doors, extending a pattern from the summer preparation programme.
A closed afternoon at Formello
- The decision was communicated on Saturday afternoon: supporters will not be admitted to Formello for Lazio’s meeting with Arezzo.
- The Fersini match is due to begin at 15:00 on Sunday and will be the latest friendly held without spectators during the current campaign.
- During the summer, Lazio also staged closed-door tests against their Primavera side, Flaminia Civita Castellana, Avellino and Ostiamare. The Avellino and Ostiamare games were played on the main pitch because work was being carried out on the Fersini surface.
- The choice contrasts with the open training session organised shortly before the second Serie A round against Genoa, when roughly 1,000 Lazio supporters reached the training ground. Organised fan groups were not present.
That open session came after Lazio had begun their league season with a victory in Bologna, offering a brief moment of direct contact between the squad and the wider support. This weekend, however, the gates will remain shut.
Another friendly expected
Lazio are also working towards a further Formello friendly for the following weekend. Juve Stabia, another Serie B club, are the most likely opponents, although the date, kick-off time and final arrangement have yet to be settled. Padova had also been considered during the planning process.
The response online has reflected the tense atmosphere around the club. Some supporters questioned whether a closed friendly represented the promised effort to move closer to the fanbase. Others took the opposite view, arguing that they would not have attended in any case.
For Lazio, it is a small decision in the rhythm of a long season, yet one that has become another point of discussion between the club and its public.
