Having a bad season? Call a priest

The Roman club has been struggling with a serious crisis for months. Ever since the defeat in the derby against Roma, results have dropped sharply, and injuries have been piling up week after week. The situation escalated when young midfielder Nicolo Rovella received a diagnosis requiring hernia surgery and this was “the last straw” for Lazio president Claudio Lotito.

According to La Gazzetta, the club's training center was blessed by a priest specially called by Lotito. The Biancocelesti's training pitches were blessed. It was an idea the Lazio president had begun to entertain in September, after the derby loss to Roma. The recriminations were directly linked to Cataldi's crossbar strike at the end of the derby. After all these misfortunes, controversial club’s supremo decided that he waited too long and called a priest. It seems that the blessings have already worked because it has been reported of the recovery of Tavares and Castellanos. Both are expected to return to the group upon the resumption of training on Tuesday afternoon.

Roma's 'betrayer' gives them a capital win over rivals Lazio

In the last two months, Lazio has faced as many as ten muscle injuries, which has completely disrupted the coach’s work and the team’s lineup. Rovella is expected to undergo surgery soon, and the club hopes that a “spiritual intervention” will help put an end to the dark streak. Lotito has previously been inclined toward unconventional methods when he wants to wake up the team or “cut through” a bad period, but the arrival of a priest has sparked great interest in Italy and beyond. Lazio fans hope that this symbolic move will finally bring a turnaround and that the team will get back on a stable course for the rest of the season.

2026 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - EUROPE

Monday

22.45: (1.01) Czech R. (22.0) Gibraltar (65.0)

22.45: (1.25) Germany (6.50) Slovakia (12.5)

22.45: (12.0) Malta (5.80) Poland (1.30)

22.45: (7.50) Montenegro (4.60) Croatia (1.48)

22.45: (1.60) N.Ireland (3.90) Luxembourg (6.00)

22.45: (1.05) Netherlands (14.0) Lithuania (35.0)

Tuesday

22.45: (1.38) Austria (4.70) B&H (8.50)

22.45: (10.5) Belarus (5.70) Greece (1.28)

22.45: (1.01) Belgium (20.0) Liechtenstein (70.0)

22.45: (5.60) Bulgaria (4.00) Georgia (1.60)

22.45: (6.00) Kosovo (3.90) Switzerland (1.58)

22.45: (1.01) Romania (20.0) San Marino (70.0)

22.45: (3.60) Scotland (3.25) Denmark (2.15)

22.45: (1.28) Spain (6.75) Turkey (10.5)

22.45: (1.58) Sweden (3.90) Slovenia (6.00)

22.45: (1.75) Wales (3.70) Macedonia (5.50)

***odds are subject to change***