Lazio successfully navigated their first pre-season friendly match, securing a 3-1 victory against the club's own Under-20 squad. Head coach Gennaro Gattuso utilized a 4-2-3-1 formation for the encounter, which included several senior players integrated into the youth lineup to ensure sufficient squad depth.
The match proved challenging for the senior side early on, with the Under-20 team taking a surprise lead into the half-time break. The goal arrived after Avram managed to exploit a significant gap on the left side of the senior defense. This followed a series of missed opportunities from Mattia Zaccagni, Tijjani Noslin, and Petar Ratkov.
Following a tactical reshuffle at the start of the second half, Gabriele Artistico emerged as the decisive figure. The former Spezia striker earned and subsequently converted a penalty to level the score. Artistico remained involved in the action, stepping up again after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was fouled, before Sana Fernandes added a third goal to seal the win in the closing stages.
Reflecting on the performance, Gattuso expressed satisfaction with the squad's dedication. "We’ve got to compliment the lads, who had a really good week in training," he stated. While acknowledging that the match was a struggle, he noted the positive aspects of the display and expressed relief that the team emerged without any new injuries. Gattuso emphasized that while there are many areas requiring improvement, the current spirit and mentality of the group are correct.
The squad was not at full strength for the friendly, as several players were unavailable. Nicolò Rovella missed the fixture due to flu symptoms, while Nuno Tavares was sidelined with knee inflammation.
