Three Things We Learned From Lazio vs Juventus: Experienced Duo Must Be Kept | OneFootball

On Saturday, Lazio were less than two minutes away from kissing their Champions League hopes goodbye, but Matias Vecino pulled off a 96th-minute equalizer to earn his side a valuable point against 10-man Juventus.

Nevertheless, this result still left a bitter taste in the mouths of many Biancocelesti supporters who were hoping for a better result given they were playing at home, but for one reason or another, Marco Baroni’s men can’t win a match at the Stadio Olimpico these days.

While the final outcome of Lazio’s campaign remains anything but certain, here are three takeaways from this weekend’s big showdown.

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru Struggling to Find His Place

Marco Baroni decided to solidify his midfield by fielding Fisayo Dele-Bashiru in front of Matteo Guendouzi and Nicolo Rovella. But aside from testing Michele Di Gregorio with an early shot, the Nigerian hardly made himself noticed.

Despite a tepid first campaign at the Stadio Olimpico, the Manchester City youth product showcased flashes of brilliance. His physical and technical attributes depict a modern midfielder who is ready to explode on the big stage. However, the 24-year-old is struggling to find a place in the current 4-2-3-1 system.

The 24-year-old can be an explosive box-to-box midfielder who would arguably produce his best football in a three-man midfield. Hence, if Baroni confirms his current formation for next season, perhaps Dele-Bashiru should be offloaded for everyone’s sake.

Pedro & Matias Vecino Must Stay

Last summer, Lazio parted ways with some of their most experienced players (Immobile, Luis Alberto, Felipe Anderson and Cataldi). Nevertheless, the club retained the services of Pedro and Matias Vecino, and it proved to be a wise call in hindsight, as the veteran duo have been decisive.

On Saturday, Vecino emerged as the last-gasp hero, while Pedro has taken Lazio off the hook on several occasions this season. While Claudio Lotito and Angelo Fabiani have been keen on lowering the average age of the squad, the Spanish attacker and the Uruguayan midfielder have been showcasing the value of experience at the most vital instances.

On the contrary, Juventus have deprived themselves of such profiles, and the lack of cool heads within their ranks has cost them dearly this season. Hence, Lazio must lock in Pedro and Vecino with new deals, as these players are becoming a rare commodity.

Blessing in Disguise?

After picking up his fifth yellow card of the season, Mattia Zaccagni will skip next weekend’s clash against Inter Milan through suspension. But while missing the services of the influential captain would have been a devastating notion for the Biancocelesti, it is arguably a less terrifying scenario at this stage, as the Italian winger’s impact has been dwindling over the past few weeks.

To his credit, Zaccagni has been an absolute warrior for the Aquile this season, leaving it all on the pitch week in week out. But like many of his teammates, he has run out of steam during the home stretch, so perhaps the introduction of fresher legs against the defending champions will turn out to be a blessing in disguise for the capital side.