Lazio face a double challenge against Napoli within four days, following their recent disappointing results. The Rome-based club will host the Serie A leaders tomorrow in the Coppa Italia at the Olimpico, followed by a league match at the Maradona stadium on Sunday evening.
Lazio’s head coach Marco Baroni acknowledges the strength of their opponents but encourages his team to believe in their ability to succeed. “We’re facing the team that’s first in the league, and deservedly so,” Baroni observes. “It’s not a surprise to me because I know Conte very well, having worked closely with him. There’s a lot of work behind that league position.”
Despite recognizing Napoli’s quality, Baroni remains optimistic about Lazio’s chances. “We’re playing against a top-level team, but we’re happy to measure ourselves against such a side. We’ll face them with our characteristics, trying to bring the game to our side,” he states.
Lazio continues to deal with injury concerns. Dia and Tavares won’t recover in time for tomorrow’s match, though they might be available for Sunday. Vecino is out for another ten days. However, Castrovilli is set to return after more than a month’s absence. “He’s doing well, he can play for a few minutes,” Baroni confirms. “We know his journey, we want to bring him back into the fold.”
The coach also mentions the inclusion of Hysaj, Akpa-Akpro, and Basic in the squad for the Coppa Italia match, as there are no restrictions on the player list for this competition. “They’ll be with us. Also because they’re behaving excellently in training,” Baroni explains.
Despite the recent setbacks, Baroni remains positive about his team’s performances. “Our recent displays have been positive,” he emphasizes. “We lost against Parma, but in terms of performance, we weren’t beaten. Certain setbacks are part of a journey that, as far as we’re concerned, is only at the beginning.”
