Belahyane impresses in his first start with Lazio

Reda Belahyane fully seized his opportunity on Monday night during Lazio’s victory over Udinese (2-1) in the third round of Serie A. Starting for the first time this season, the Moroccan midfielder played the entire match at the heart of Gennaro Gattuso’s 4-3-3 formation.

Trailing after Jesper Karlström’s opening goal in the 49th minute, the Roman side turned the situation around thanks to Davide Frattesi (75th) and then Albert Gudmundsson (88th). Although not directly involved in the two goals, Belahyane contributed to his team’s balance with his defensive activity and quality in ball circulation.

The Atlas Lion completed 62 of his 67 passes, achieving nearly 93% accuracy, while making 11 recoveries, three tackles, and one interception. He also won four of his six duels on the ground and created one chance, without committing any fouls. His performance was rewarded with a score of 8/10 on FotMob, while the Italian press mainly praised his personality and involvement in defensive work.

After the match, Belahyane did not hide his satisfaction: “This is an important victory, but the team’s reaction matters even more. It was not guaranteed and gives us great satisfaction.” The Moroccan also explained that he felt comfortable on the pitch and was pleased with his performance in this first start. This success allows Lazio to continue their perfect start to the season with three wins in three matches.