According to Corriere dello Sport, Lazio's four center-backs are competing for two starting spots, with Doekhi close to returning.

Lazio's center-back pairing remains unsettled. After Mario Gila and Romagnoli departed, the team now has four center-backs competing for two positions, with the starting lineup still in flux. Gattuso signed Doekhi and Provedel this summer, and both started in the first four official matches, including their Coppa Italia debut and the opening three league rounds. After the transfer window closed, Lazio signed Diogo Leite on a free transfer, while Sutalo has regained form following a calf injury upon his arrival in Rome. Doekhi sustained a hand injury during Thursday's training due to a collision and underwent surgery, creating opportunities for other center-backs. In the AC Milan match, former Ajax defender Doekhi made his debut, Diogo Leite came on as a late substitute, and Sutalo was replaced in the 84th minute due to fatigue.

Diogo Leite will compete with Provedel for a position

The Portuguese defender was the team's final free transfer signing and, lacking other options, was deployed as a right-sided center-back. In terms of dominant foot and position, Diogo Leite will compete with Provedel. After spending a year and a half as a backup, Provedel has earned the club's recognition and is now in contention. The final center-back pairing will be determined by daily training and match performance. Apart from a poor showing against Mantova, Lazio has impressed overall. The team kept clean sheets against Bologna and Genoa before conceding to Udinese, and then lost two goals to AC Milan—a result more attributable to the opponent's strength and overall pressure than individual errors. Gattuso's preferences and possible combinations among the four center-backs will take time to establish.

First test against Venezia; Doekhi close to returning

Lazio will face its first crucial test against Venezia, with Doekhi close to returning. He underwent internal fixation surgery with a plate and screws for a spiral fracture of the second metacarpal of his left hand on Friday. Doekhi was unavailable for the AC Milan match, but Lazio is optimistic he will be fit for Venezia at the Penzo Stadium. The Dutch defender can play with protective gear. Previously, Lazzari and Murgia suffered similar injuries and returned to action within days. Tactical preparations for Venezia will run from tomorrow through Thursday. After Gattuso granted the team a day off, training resumes at 6 PM tomorrow; sessions from then until the final pre-match training on Friday are scheduled for 9:30 AM.

Doekhi and Diogo Leite have Union Berlin history; Sutalo seeks to maintain his place

Sutalo is the only Lazio player who featured in the recent World Cup, and he is keen to hold his place. In his AC Milan debut, Sutalo impressed, using his experience to withstand the intensity of the clash at the Stadio Olimpico. Given that Diogo Leite only officially joined a week ago, Provedel appears nearly certain to start. However, he too must maintain his spot through performance. All four center-backs have a chance to play, and any could end up on the bench. Doekhi and Diogo Leite worked together at Union Berlin for four years. Typically, absent an emergency, Gattuso will pair a right-footed center-back with a left-footed one. No player can guarantee a starting spot, and this competition will drive all four to perform at their best—both in battles against opposing strikers and in their internal fight for a starting position.

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