Flying Start in Rome: Davide Frattesi Thriving Under Gattuso at Lazio

Davide Frattesi’s start to life at Lazio could hardly have been scripted any better. The Italian midfielder has taken Gennaro Gattuso’s side by storm, scoring in each of his first three Serie A appearances for the Biancocelesti.

A Historic Goalscoring Start

After sealing his summer move to the capital, Frattesi wasted no time announcing himself to the Lazio faithful. His goalscoring run began with a strike against Bologna on Matchday 1, followed by a decisive goal in a 1-0 victory over Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

UDINE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: davide Frattesi of SS Lazio player of the match after the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and SS Lazio at Stadio Friuli on September 07, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Most recently against Udinese, with Lazio trailing 1-0 in the second half, Frattesi once again showcased his world-class late-arrival instincts by darting into the box to convert Mattia Zaccagni’s cross. His equalizer sparked the team’s late comeback, which was completed by Albert Gudmundsson’s winner.

Scoring in three consecutive matches to open a Serie A campaign for a new club is a rare feat. In Lazio’s history, very few debutants have burst onto the scene with such immediate goalscoring consistency, drawing instant comparisons to Mauro Zárate’s explosive debut stretch during the 2008/09 season.

FotMob Data Breakdown: Frattesi Match-by-Match Averages

Analyzing Frattesi’s underlying match data across his first three Serie A fixtures highlights the sheer efficiency of his performances:

Key Tactical Analysis & Takeaways

• Lethal Box-Crashing Efficiency: Frattesi has taken exactly one shot on target per match and converted all three into goals (100% finishing rate on target). His 1.33 total xG underlines that his off-the-ball runs into the penalty area consistently generate high-quality scoring opportunities.
• Minimal Touches, Maximum Impact: Averaging just 33.7 touches per game, Frattesi does not need heavy possession to make a difference. Over 12.8% of his total touches occur inside the opposition box (4.33 per game), turning him into an extra forward whenever Lazio pushes into the final third.
• Increasing Central Role: His involvement has grown steadily with each fixture—expanding from a 36-minute substitute appearance against Bologna (19 touches) to a full 80-minute starting role against Udinese (46 touches).
• High-Octane Defensive Work Rate: In addition to his goals, Frattesi contributes 3.67 defensive actions and 3.0 recoveries per match, providing the box-to-box engine Gennaro Gattuso demands from his central midfielders.

Gattuso’s Dynamic Engine

UDINE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 07: Gennaro Gattuso, Lazio manager, looks on during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and SS Lazio at Stadio Friuli on September 07, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images)

Gennaro Gattuso’s tactical setup gives Frattesi the freedom to burst forward into attacking spaces while Kenneth Taylor and Reda Belahyane balance the central midfield.

Gattuso has frequently praised the midfielder’s relentless mentality, reiterating that modern football requires equal parts tactical intelligence and work rate. In Rome, Frattesi has quickly transformed into an essential figure in Lazio’s fast-paced midfield, cementing a storybook start to the 2026/27 campaign.