Inside Lazio: Baroni’s Tactics, Transfer Window and Best Players

The Eagles are threatening to soar. Just as they found their form at the end of last season to surge into Europe, Lazio are once again taking flight up the Serie A table, and Marco Baroni’s men have the Champions League in their sights.

Currently fifth in the table, and having won eight of their last nine in all competitions, the capital outfit are looking more and more confident with each passing game.

It isn’t a run of form most would’ve predicted over the summer, especially for a side who had just waved goodbye to their top scorer from each of the past eight seasons.

Ciro Immobile finally left the Stadio Olimpico and headed for Besiktas in Turkey. In his eight seasons with the club he had won the golden boot on three occasions.

Replacing those goals was a priority then, and the answer has come in the most unlikely source. Rather than the goals themselves, it is the man laying on the majority of them that has stolen the limelight for Lazio so far this term.

Nuno Tavares has arrived on loan from Arsenal but has so far laid on eight goals in Serie A in as many appearances. He is on course to smash the record for the most assists produced in a season by a defender in the Italian top flight, with former Udinese full-back Pablo Armero laying on 10 goals in 2011-12.

A red card against Como has been the only blip on the Portuguese defender’s record since his move to Rome, though that didn’t have any effect on his team as they ploughed on to a resounding 5-1 win against the newly-promoted side.

His role has been key to helping Baroni enjoy a fruitful start to life in the eternal city. Speaking on his appointment, the former Napoli defender declared it “the pinnacle of my career”.

“I am someone who loves challenges, I want to pass this on to the team,” he told press at his unveiling. “We must not be afraid, but instead have the desire for a challenge. The team must not play for itself, but for the fans.”

The 61-year-old is certainly not letting his opportunity go to waste, earning the head coach of the month award for October after a run that has seen I Biancocelesti move to within three points of top spot.

They’re going strong in Europe, too, boasting a 100 per cent record in the Europa League after four matches and topping the entire competition.

Transfers: It was a busy summer for Lazio, with head coach Baroni not the only new arrival. Tijjani Noslin arrived from Hellas Verona for a reported €15million – their biggest outlay of the window. Matteo Guendouzi was another sizeable fee, with his loan move from Marseille made permanent for the sum of €13million.

Frenchman Loum Tchaouna joined for €8m from Salernitana, while Gaetano Castrovilli arrived on a free from Fiorentina.

It is in the loan market though where the club looks to have done its best business, with Nuno Tavares arriving from Arsenal and Boulaye Dia joining from Salernitana. Samuel Gigot is also a temporary addition from Marseille.

The new faces were necessary with a number of notable names departing. Four left at the expiration of their contracts – including Felipe Anderson who returned to Brazil with Palmeiras.

Elsewhere there was the departure of Luis Alberto to Al-Duhail, and goalkeeper Luis Maximiano to Almeria – as well as Ciro Immobile’s previously mentioned departure for Turkey.

Best Performers: Nuno Tavares has stolen the show to date with his attacking displays from left-back. The Portugal international has been key to their steady form, while Valentin Castellanos has taken up the mantle from Immobile and is leading the way on the goal front with seven in all competitions. The evergreen Pedro, still going strong at 37, has six.

Tactics: Baroni was adamant when joining that he would be playing with four at the back, and the head coach has stayed true to his word. Beginning the season in a 4-3-3, defeat at the hands of Udinese saw the 61-year-old tweak his formation slightly to a 4-2-3-1 – a plan he has stuck with ever since.