Lazio's Tactical Overhaul: From Pellegrini's Exit To A Bold New Formation

Adding to an already bewildering string of decisions is the removal of Pellegrini—resulting in one fewer full-back just when the squad are already short or barely replenished. Many argue that Baroni has reached unprecedented levels of self-sabotage, yet he and the club have been exploring alternative technical, tactical, and market-related solutions.

One such option is to reposition Gila away from his full-back duties; at Cagliari he operated on the right. Not only can he hit top speeds of 34–36 km/h—which is valuable in attack—but he has also adapted to full-back roles in the past. For example, during his time under Tudor, he sometimes played as a left fullback in a four-man defense when the team was not in possession. Still, picturing him as a traditional fullback delivering crosses is rather far-fetched. Baroni’s tactical blueprint for Lazio has long been centered around a fluid system (using formations like 4‑2‑3‑1 and 4‑3‑3) that leverages the dynamic, “flying” qualities of full-backs—ideally, a right-footed player on the right and a left-footed one on the left. Without Tavares, however, the side will have to make do with two right-footers on the left, thus lacking a propulsive fullback.

Shifting focus to midfield, the coach has opted for the inclusion of Basic in a bid to restore the 4‑3‑3 formation as soon as possible. This necessitates the addition of more midfielders (with the Croatian player limited to Serie A matches). What might appear as a chaotic overhaul is actually based on precise evaluations. Baroni has been open in interviews about his plan to permanently reintegrate Vecino once he is available again, though there’s a risk that Vecino’s return might be delayed until the match against Venezia rather than being ready on the bench for Napoli. He is set to take his exams tomorrow.

If all goes according to plan, the new Lazio could line up with Gila at right-back, Patric or Gigot partnering with Romagnoli in central defense, and Tavares on the left. In a 4‑3‑3 midfield, Guendouzi, Rovella, and either Vecino or Dele‑Bashiru would take up the central roles. Up front, Isaksen, Castellanos, and Zaccagni are expected to lead the attack, with Noslin, Tchaouna, Pedro, and Ibrahimovic ready to come off the bench. Dia, regarded as pivotal for the team’s breakthrough, would be deployed as Castellanos’ ideal alternative—allowing him to operate more centrally and concentrate on scoring. This strategy is evidenced by a three-man combination reminiscent of Cagliari’s system, featuring Zaccagni as the finisher, with Dia sharing responsibilities with Taty.

In the 4‑3‑3 setup, Belahyane is anticipated to alternating with Rovella or playing together as defensive midfielder. Meanwhile, the left-footed central midfielder Provstgaard will be kept on standby as a backup for Romagnoli. Moreover, employing Gila as a full-back could afford him more opportunities to contribute.