Inter midfielder Roberto Gagliardini could play from the start against Lazio in tomorrow afternoon’s Serie A match.
This according to today’s print edition of Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport, via FCInterNews, who report that the 29-year-old could come in to give Nicolo Barella and Hakan Calhanoglu a rest, whilst he may also be used to man-mark Biancocelesti midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
Whilst Gagliardini had started against Empoli last weekend with both of Barella and Henrikh Mkhitaryan given a rest in midfield, the former Atalanta midfielder did not start against Juventus on Wedensday, though he did come off the bench late on.
The 29-year-old midfielder could come straight back into the lineup in this weekend’s must-win match against Lazio, however.
One reason for this could be to give both of Barella and Calhanoglu a rest, as whilst neither are carrying a serious injury, both are showing real signs of fatigue following the match against Juventus.
However, Tuttosport note, this would not be the only factor which may see Gagliardini given the nod to start against the Biancocelesti.
Former Lazio coach Inzaghi has turned to the midfielder in previous matches against his old side since taking over at Inter, and his plan for the player has always looked fairly clear.
The 29-year-old’s physicality and diligent defensive positioning have been a factor that Inzaghi has looked to capitalize on to stop one Lazio player in particular – midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.
The Serb is a player who Inzaghi knows very well, and having gotten the best out of him in the past the 47-year-old appears to be strongly inclined to take extra measures to try and mark him out of the game.
Gagliardini has been the player who has been the task of sticking with Milinkovic-Savic to deny him time and space on the ball, and according to Tuttosport, there is every chance that Inzaghi will have him do so once again on Sunday.
