Lazio were due to face Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia on 27 October, with kick-off scheduled for 17.30 GMT. Before the Serie A match, Gennaro Gattuso thanked the travelling supporters and spoke warmly about Sassuolo coach Alberto Aquilani.
Match setting and crowd plans
Football Italia said this was the first round. Football Italia also said Lazio are not in Europe and crashed out of the Coppa Italia in the opening round.
Football Italia said Lazio fans are boycotting home games and have done for over a year now, but they flock to the away fixtures. Football Italia said Lazio fans at the match were reported to be anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000.
Football Italia said Sassuolo ultras announced that in protest against the kick-off time and cost of this round, they would wait outside the stadium for the first 15 minutes of the match, urging others to do the same.
Gattuso on Sassuolo
Gattuso said: "Naturally, we need to be ready, as Sassuolo are a team who play well, systematically have four attacking players and go on the attack very quickly."
Thanks for the away support and praise for Aquilani
Gattuso said: "It’s a Tuesday early evening, we are grateful that they have come all this way to be by our side and hope to make them happy."
Gattuso said: "I have a great rapport with him. Aquilani was always a very intelligent player and is carrying that on in his coaching career. He takes a lot of risks, is very positive, I feel like Sassuolo deserved more points than they currently have, and I am not surprised. I am sure he’ll have a great career."
Gattuso on Lazio's approach
Football Italia said Lazio midfielder Reda Belahyane said that week that they all want to copy Gattuso's example when playing.
Gattuso said: "If you have 11 Gattuso players in your line-up, you won’t win much! I think we are working hard, we show unity and play as a team, both when attacking and defending. If we keep that up, we can go far, but if we try to be fancy, don’t help each other out or lose humility, we will struggle. That is the secret."
