Lazio Primavera 2024/25 Recap: Playoff Hopes Fade, But Youth Potential Shines Through

Following an impressive 2023/24 campaign, Lazio Primavera were unable to replicate their high standards this season, ultimately falling short of qualifying for the 2024/25 Scudetto Playoffs. However, the season was not without its bright moments and emerging talent for the Biancoceleste youth squad.

Under coach Stefano Sanderra, Lazio entered the season with a renewed lineup after key departures — most notably Sana Fernandes and Diego Gonzalez. Despite these exits, the new arrivals quickly adapted, and Lazio began their campaign strongly with a win at Empoli. That opening victory was followed by promising results against Inter and Atalanta, briefly propelling them into the league’s upper tier.

The first major setback came in the Rome derby, where Lazio were defeated at home. That loss seemed to affect their momentum, as the team recorded consecutive draws against Monza and Genoa. However, Sanderra’s squad rebounded with three straight victories, pushing them back to second place by early November. Unfortunately, that peak would mark the beginning of a decline.

From November through January, a string of underwhelming draws and losses saw Lazio gradually slide down the table. On January 1, 2025, Sanderra stepped down for personal reasons but stayed within the club in a managerial capacity. His replacement, Sergio Pirozzi — a well-known figure due to his leadership during the Amatrice earthquake — took over the reins.

Pirozzi's tenure began with a goalless draw against Milan, keeping Lazio in seventh place. However, an early exit from the Coppa Italia at the hands of Juventus on penalties added to the disappointment. The team hovered just outside the playoff zone for much of the spring, with a pattern of mixed results — including a second derby defeat — characterizing their campaign.

There was a brief resurgence between late March and mid-April, highlighted by a 3-1 away win over Juventus on Easter Sunday. The result temporarily lifted Lazio back into the playoff race. But the momentum didn’t last. A critical home loss to Milan, followed by a draw against already-relegated Sampdoria, ended any remaining hope. The season closed with a loss to Fiorentina and a draw at Empoli, sealing a ninth-place finish with 56 points.

The playoff race will instead feature Roma, Inter, Sassuolo, Fiorentina, Juventus, and Milan. Roma and Inter have already booked their places in the semi-finals, while Fiorentina-Juventus and Sassuolo-Milan will determine the remaining spots.

Despite the playoff miss, the season had its individual success stories. Striker Lorenzo D’Agostini led the scoring charts for Lazio Primavera with nine goals and one assist, playing 37 of 38 league matches and featuring in the Coppa Italia against Juventus.

Two Lazio youngsters also made the leap to senior European competition this season. Mahamadou Balde, younger brother of Keita Balde, debuted in the Europa League clash with Real Sociedad, while Matteo Zazza got his first minutes in Portugal against Braga, replacing Luca Pellegrini. These experiences underline the potential brewing within the Lazio youth ranks.

While the team fell short of postseason glory, the development of young players and flashes of promise offer hope for the future of the Biancoceleste academy.