[Friendly] Fenerbahce - Lazio = 1 - 0

Lazio's preseason continued with a high-profile friendly against Fenerbahce in Istanbul, marked by the reunion of two titans of modern football: Maurizio Sarri and José Mourinho. The friendly clash evoked echoes of Roman derbies past, but this time the stage was less pressure. The match ended with a narrow win for the Turkish side, exposing some of the Biancoceleste’s lingering weaknesses just days before the start of the new season.

There was a sense of familiarity in the air as Sarri and Mourinho embraced before kickoff—their first meeting since the Derby della Capitale in January 2024. Although now on different sidelines, the rivalry carried symbolic weight. For Sarri, it brought memories of hard-fought derbies; for Mourinho, perhaps a reminder of unfinished business in Rome.

The match offered glimpses of “Sarrismo” at work: crisp ball circulation, positional discipline, and quick interplay in midfield. Rovella, Guendouzi, and Dele-Bashiru orchestrated some well-structured sequences, and defensively, Lazio held firm for most of the first half. However, the final third told a different story.

Despite flashes from Cancellieri and Zaccagni in the opening half, Lazio lacked sharpness in attack. Castellanos struggled to find space, and chances were scarce. In the second half, newcomers like Noslin and Belahyane tried to inject energy, but the Biancoceleste failed to convert their build-up into real threats.

The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Fenerbahce capitalized on a mistake by Guendouzi under pressure. Irfan Kahveci pounced and slotted past Provedel to give the hosts the only goal of the match. Lazio’s efforts to level the score fell short, with final attempts from Noslin and Pellegrini lacking precision.

Sarri rotated heavily, testing squad depth with multiple substitutions throughout the match. New faces like Tavares, Belahyane, and Dia saw minutes, while veterans like Romagnoli, Pedro, and Cataldi added experience in the latter stages.

Despite tactical flexibility and energy from the bench, Lazio’s cohesion is still a work in progress. The manager experimented with different midfield combinations and attacking duos, yet none yielded the creative spark needed to unlock the Turkish defense.

With just days left before the season kicks off, Lazio will stay in Turkey to face Galatasaray on August 2nd in another stern test of their preparedness. That match, also broadcast on DAZN, will offer Sarri a final chance to polish his squad and the focus must now turn to converting philosophy into points.

Lazio (4-3-3): Provedel (61' Mandas); Lazzari (46' Marusic), Gila (67' Hysaj), Provstgaard (46' Romagnoli), Nuno Tavares (67' Pellegrini); Guendouzi (67' Belahyane), Rovella (46' Cataldi), Dele-Bashiru (46' Vecino); Cancellieri (61' Pedro), Castellanos (61' Dia), Zaccagni (61' Noslin).

Bench: Furlanetto, Ruggeri, Basic, Pinelli, Sana Fernandes.

Coach: Sarri

Goalscorer: 60' Kahveci (F)

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