Picking up a clean sheet at home for the first time in two months against Milan in their 3-0 win, Lazio finally appeared to find some balance in defence.
Francesco Acerbi had a big part to play in that, and yet he will miss the next game through a yellow card suspension, leaving Simone Inzaghi with a decision to make in his first XI against Genoa.
Currently, at the top of the list is Southampton’s Wesley Hoedt, who returned to Rome for the season on loan.
He’s fared fairly miserably, and yet he’s all the manager has left in a currently depleted defence lacking much talent.
With Luiz Felipe still injured and Mateo Musacchio doing worse than Hoedt, there’s little room left to wiggle, making him ‘the first choice’ for the game, according to Il Messaggero.
It’s made clear he will ‘hardly be redeemed at €5m’ from Southampton, but this fixture could be his ‘last chance’ to showcase his ability this season.
This is backed up by Corriere dello Sport, who state this could be a ‘great occasion’ for him after two months away from a starting role.
They say he’s still ‘searching’ to be bought permanently or to at least ‘leave a positive mark’ before leaving to return to Southampton.
We’re sure Ralph Hasenhüttl and co. will be hoping he does really well, as that would make their job in the summer a tad easier.
