Lazio forward Mattia Zaccagni scored from the penalty spot in a 2-0 win away against Venezia on 19 September, with Noslin adding the second as Gennaro Gattuso's side climbed level with Roma and Inter at the top of the Serie A table after five rounds.
The result matters beyond the three points. Lazio are unbeaten through five matches — four wins, one draw — with eight goals scored and only three conceded. That defensive solidity, combined with the attacking contributions of a captain who is now on one goal and two assists in Serie A this season, gives Gattuso's project a credibility it could not yet claim a month ago. A side that concedes at that rate and wins at that frequency is not flattered by third place on 13 points.
Zaccagni's role in this start deserves scrutiny rather than simple celebration. His average rating of 7.32 across five Serie A appearances reflects consistent involvement rather than isolated brilliance, and his penalty conversion against Venezia came in a match where goalkeeper Mandas had kept the score level through the first half, including saving a spot-kick at the other end. Zaccagni's composure from twelve yards, in a game that had been tight until that moment, carried weight.
The 31-year-old's AI overall of 70 out of 100 positions him as a reliable rather than elite operator at this level — a reading that aligns with what the season data shows: present in decisive moments, contributing without dominating the statistical ledger. His single Coppa Italia appearance this season produced nothing in the way of goal contributions, and a separate Serie A outing rated at 6.60 suggests his output is not uniform across every fixture.
What the aggregate picture offers is a player functioning well within a system that is currently outperforming expectations. Lazio were not widely anticipated to be sharing top spot with Roma and Inter at this stage. That they are, and that Zaccagni is central to the attacking thread, is the relevant fact. Gattuso's side face a schedule that will test whether this is a foundation or a false dawn, and Zaccagni's ability to maintain his current level of involvement will be one of the clearer indicators of which it is.