Fisayo Dele-Bashiru fires Lazio to 3-0 win over Juventus: 3 things you missed

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru made a strong return from injury as Lazio secured an impressive 3-0 victory over Juventus in Turin.

The Super Eagles midfielder came off the bench to put the finishing touch on an excellent team performance.

Dele-Bashiru replaced Kenneth Taylor in the 70th minute and found the net to seal the victory, giving Lazio a memorable result against one of Serie A’s traditional heavyweights.

The former Manchester City lad had only recently returned from a spell on the injury treatment table, making his contribution particularly encouraging for Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso.

The Juventus win sent Lazio to join Inter Milan at the top of the Italian Serie A table with 19 points, as they remain one of only four clubs still unbeaten in the top flight.

Three details stand out from Dele-Bashiru’s performance.

1. Dele-Bashiru scores his first Lazio goal of the season

The strike against Juventus was Dele-Bashiru’s first goal for Lazio this season, arriving in his third appearance.

His campaign has been disrupted by injury, which forced him to spend time on the sidelines after making his first appearance of the season. He returned to action last weekend in the 3-1 win over Monza before getting another opportunity against Juventus.

He now has five goals and one assist in 47 Serie A appearances for Lazio. The goal in Turin could prove important as he looks to build momentum and establish himself in Gattuso’s plans.

2. He was Lazio’s second-highest-rated player

Dele-Bashiru’s impact was not limited to his goal. Despite playing for only around 20 minutes, the Nigerian received a rating of 7.7 (per SofaScore) for his performance against Juventus.

That was the second-highest rating among Lazio players, with only defender Oliver Provstgaard earning a better score. The defender, who opened the scoring in the 37th minute, received an 8.2 rating.

No Juventus player matched Dele-Bashiru’s 7.7 score. The midfielder will now hope his performance convinces Gattuso to consider him for a starting role when Lazio face Parma on October 24.

3. Lazio could soon become Dele-Bashiru’s most productive club

Dele-Bashiru’s goal against Juventus also brought his overall Lazio record to eight goals and four assists in 61 appearances across all competitions.

Those numbers put Lazio second among the clubs he has represented in terms of appearances and attacking contributions.

Sheffield Wednesday remain his most frequently represented club, with 86 appearances, while his eight goals for Lazio are just one short of the nine he scored for Turkish side Hatayspor.

Hatayspor also lead the way in his goal contributions, with the Nigerian recording nine goals and six assists in 39 appearances for the club.

His Lazio record now stands at 12 goal contributions, just three short of his Hatayspor total.

With his fitness improving and his confidence boosted by a goal against Juventus, Dele-Bashiru has an opportunity to close that gap and become an even more influential figure in Rome.

His next challenge is to turn this encouraging cameo into a more regular role under Gattuso.