Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Serie A clash between Lazio and Hellas Verona, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Lazio seek to sustain their late play for fifth in Serie A when they welcome Hellas Verona to Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.
Igor Tudor‘s men return to league action days after their Coppa Italia semi-final exit to Juventus in midweek, and they hope to claim a fifth win in six when Verona visit in gameweek 34.
Match preview
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Lazio could not get past Massimiliano Allegri‘s Juventus side in the cup semi-final, but the Biancocelesti’s season is far from over as they aim for fifth in Serie A.
The capital club’s latest victory — defeating Genoa 1-0 — was their fourth in five league matches (one loss), making them the in-form side in the top flight in that period.
Having suffered three consecutive home losses before Maurizio Sarri‘s departure, Lazio have claimed two league wins on the trot in front of their fans — three if Tuesday’s cup win over Juventus is included — making the Biancocelesti favourites for another triumph at the Olimpico.
With Bologna’s win over Roma on Monday blowing the jostle for fifth spot wide open, Lazio could put pressure on their city rivals on Saturday before Daniele De Rossi‘s men visit Napoli on Sunday.
The Giallorossi notched a last-gasp win at Udinese on Thursday, seeing Tudor’s men trail De Rossi’s side by six points, and the Biancocelesti seek to cut that to three before the Partenopei host Roma at the Maradona on Sunday
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Verona aim to halt Lazio’s momentum in Serie A, even if the form table in the last five places them 15th, securing one win and two draws from an available 15.
That triumph came against Udinese on April 20, prompting a change of head coach for the relegation-threatened club, appointing Fabio Cannavaro two days after that reverse at the Bentegodi.
That was the Mastiffs’ fifth home win of 2023-24, but that much cannot be said for their road form, with just two wins claimed in 17 on their travels.
However, the recent improvement away from the Bentegodi has seen Marco Baroni‘s men notch five points from nine, beating Lecce (1-0) before securing creditable draws at Cagliari (1-1) and Atalanta (2-2).
With only three points separating the Mastiffs from Frosinone in 18th, extending their unbeaten road sequence to four will be what the doctor ordered for a club keen to beat the drop.
Lazio Serie A form:
Lazio form (all competitions):
Hellas Verona Serie A form:
Team News
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Ciro Immobile — who has scored 10 times in Serie A against Verona — returned for the final eight minutes of the Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg. However, the Lazio captain is not expected to start, with Valentin Castellanos anticipated to lead the attack after scoring twice against the Old Lady.
Missing through injury are Daichi Kamada (calf), Ivan Provedel (hamstring), Manuel Lazzari (muscle) and Mattia Zccagni (ankle).
The in-form Tijjani Noslin has been involved in four goals in five league matches, scoring twice and assisting as many, making him the away side’s leading threat on Saturday.
Juan Manuel Cruz and Pawel Dawidowicz are not expected to participate in gameweek 34, even if the former is doubtful.
Lazio possible starting lineup:
Mandas; Casale, Patric, Gila; Rovella, Guendouzi, Vecino, Marusic; Alberto, Anderson; Castellanos
Hellas Verona possible starting lineup:
Montipo; Centonze, Coppola, Magnani, Cabal; Silva, Serdar; Mitrovic, Folorunsho, Lazovic; Noslin
We say: Lazio 3-1 Hellas Verona
While Verona have avoided defeat in their last three road games, that sequence could end on Saturday.
Lazio are unbeaten in 14 of 15 home matches against the Mastiffs, winning 10 and drawing four, and Tudor should lead the Biancocelesti to an 11th triumph at the Olimpico in gameweek 34.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.