Lazio’s early-season momentum has found an unlikely organiser in Reda Belahyane, a midfielder who began the campaign outside the main expectations but has become central to Rino Gattuso’s side. With injuries and delayed returns reducing the options in the middle, the Moroccan has turned an emergency into an opportunity and now looks difficult to remove from the starting line-up.
Key takeaways
- Belahyane has made 35 ball recoveries, second in Serie A behind Jesper Karlstrom’s 38.
- He has already played 514 minutes this season after managing 612 across Serie A and the Coppa Italia last year.
- Lazio face Sassuolo on Tuesday, when Belahyane could pass his entire 2025-26 minutes total.
- Against Juventus in Turin, he covered 11.816km, surpassed only by Davide Frattesi’s 11.920km.
- Cataldi has yet to make his first appearance, while Nicolò Rovella remains out with a calf injury.
From squad option to Lazio’s midfield reference point
Belahyane had not appeared an obvious candidate to lead Lazio’s midfield. Under Maurizio Sarri last season, he was used sparingly and was viewed as an imperfect fit for the deepest role in a three-man unit. During pre-season he had been tested as a more advanced midfielder, but the role did not appear to suit either his instincts or his qualities.
Gattuso has taken a different view. Rather than treating Belahyane as cover, the Lazio coach has made him the central figure between Frattesi and Taylor, two midfielders whose places have become increasingly secure. Belahyane has been asked to begin moves, contest possession and protect the side against opponents arriving late into the box.
The change has been accelerated by necessity. Cataldi missed the entire pre-season programme after surgery to resolve a pubalgia problem and is still waiting for his first outing. Rovella has been unavailable since the home meeting with Genoa because of a calf lesion. Lazio’s midfield depth was tested before the season had properly settled, and Belahyane stepped forward.
At 22, having celebrated his birthday in June, the player born in 2004 has responded with a workload that reflects his new standing. His 514 minutes have come from seven league rounds and the Coppa Italia match against Mantova in August. Another appearance in the midweek fixture with Sassuolo would take him beyond the total accumulated throughout last season.
A balanced unit behind Lazio’s fast start
The figures underline one side of Belahyane’s contribution. His 35 recoveries put him among the league’s most productive midfield ball-winners, with only Karlstrom ahead of him on 38. In the victory over Juventus, he also showed the physical commitment behind his growing importance, recording 11.816km over the course of the match in Turin.
Only Frattesi, with 11.920km, covered more ground for Lazio that evening. The 3-0 result against Juventus also brought an impact from Dele-Bashiru, who had returned to availability for the Monza match and made his mark after coming on.
Gattuso’s midfield currently has clearly divided responsibilities. Belahyane supplies recovery work and distribution from the base, Taylor helps direct possession and create, while Frattesi attacks spaces and arrives around the penalty area. It is a complementary group that has helped sustain Lazio’s attacking pace without losing balance.
The eventual returns of Cataldi and Rovella will give the coach further choices, but selection will not be decided by fitness alone. Belahyane was once viewed as a player whose slight frame invited doubt; his performances have changed the internal order. The player Lazio used least last season is now becoming one of the clearest symbols of their opening chapter under Gattuso.
