Three Serie A matches, four games in all competitions and not a single minute played. Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s spell on the Lazio bench continued on Sunday as Marco Baroni’s men dug out a hard-fought 1-0 win away to relegation-threatened Empoli.
At the Stadio Carlo Castellani, the visitors got off to a dream start with Boulaye Dia opening the scoring inside the first minute.
Empoli, desperate in their fight for survival, had a goal chalked off by VAR and were later reduced to ten men before Elseid Hysaj’s red card evened things up.
Despite late pressure from the hosts, Lazio held firm to claim a vital three points that temporarily lifts them to fourth place. For Empoli, who remain 19th and two points from safety with three games left, the trapdoor to Serie B looms larger.
Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s numbers shows he deserves more
Since returning from injury, the 25-year-old Nigerian has found opportunities increasingly scarce.
Limited to brief cameos, he has now been an unused substitute in Lazio’s last three league outings, sparking quiet concerns over his role in Baroni’s tactical setup during the business end of the season.
It’s a curious omission when viewed through the lens of productivity. Despite his sporadic appearances, Dele-Bashiru remains Lazio’s most effective midfielder in the final third.
With five goals across all competitions, three of them in 19 Serie A games and three assists, no other midfielder at the club has matched his direct goal contribution tally.
Still, the statistics have not translated into trust, and the Super Eagles playmaker continues to wait in the wings as Lazio push for Champions League qualification.
