An ordeal that lasted almost two months. An ankle injury and a longer-than-expected recovery held Ivan Provedel away from the field for over a month and a half. An absence that was barely felt at Lazio thanks to Christos Mandas, one of the revelations of this Biancoceleste season. The Greek goalkeeper amazed everyone and had the enormous merit of not making the former Spezia regret, who is now ready to take back his starting place.
The return of a certainty
Since arriving last season, Provedel has proven to be one of the most reliable goalkeepers in the league. After last year’s clean sheet record, the goalkeeper born in ’94 was one of the few to survive in a complicated season like the one experienced by Lazio. Well in the league, also very well in Europe where he even had the pleasure of scoring a goal against Atletico Madrid by touring the world. The club has decided to secure him with a contract renewal until 2027 signed last February, a few weeks before the injury against Udinese.
The door is safe
In a summer where a real revolution is expected, at least as far as goalkeepers are concerned, Lazio is safe. Provedel is the expert owner who gives guarantees and Mandas he showed he can be an excellent second. The Greek will have no problems starting again next year as twelfth, perhaps with the prospect of playing in the Italian cup and possibly in Europe (difficult in the event of a Champions League miracle). Meanwhile, there is doubt as to who will play on Saturday in Monza. Mandas did well and for this reason it cannot be ruled out that the technical staff decides not to force the return of Provedel, who however is impatient and would like to return to the field as early as Saturday against the Brianza team.
