3. Filippo Bandinelli
Lazio had just concluded their first attack into a brand new campaign. Having avoided the scare, Andreazzoli’s men were looking to showcase their courage, orchestrating their build-up from the back. Right-back Petar Stojanović’s pass found the feet of Nedim Bajrami in the middle of the park. Receiving the through ball, he, without wasting a second, turned his back and abruptly made a dart towards Lazio’s 18-yard-box.
Perplexed, Lazio defenders chose to fall back instead of pressuring the playmaker. Sensing that a body was bombing forward down his left, Bajrami wired an accurate pass in the path of none other than Filippo Bandinelli, who swung his left foot at it, giving the host, Empoli, an early lead against their former gaffer in Maurizio Sarri.
Even though Sarri’s team went on to win the game, Bandinelli starred for the home side. Hovering at the left of Empoli’s midfield diamond in 4-4-2, Bandinelli was constantly going up to bulk up the team’s attack and subsequently getting down to help the team in defence.
Born in Florence, the Fiorentina graduate, like most of his teammates, is playing in the first campaign in the first tier of Italian football this season. Henceforth, the prospect of facing 36-time Scudetto winners this Saturday should be intriguing as far as his professional career is concerned. He will be looking to impress again with his forward darts and defensive aptitude.
At 26, Bandinelli is at the peak of his individual powers. It would be interesting to see whether he could replicate last weekend’s performance against Juventus. Nonetheless, Juventus should be wary of Bandinelli habitual forward runs down the left flank.