Lazio will be looking to return to winning ways when take on Genoa in the first fixture of the 18th Serie A round at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday night with kickoff at 20:30.
Lazio have made a bit of inconsistent campaign this season recording seven wins, four draws and six defeats in their 17 league matches, collecting 25 points which have left them sitting in the ninth spot with two points outside the European places.
Recently Lazio have been in a slump in Serie A as they have only won one of their last five league matches, drawing once while suffering three defeats in the run. They are coming off a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Sassuolo at Mapei Stadium last Sunday. The Biancoceleti gave away their 1-0 lead at half time as second half goals from Domenico Berardi and Giacomo Raspadori condemned Lazio to their second winless match across all competitions.
Prior to the defeat Maurizio Sarri’s side were coming off a 0-0 draw Galatasaray at Stadio Olimpico in the group finale of the Europa League, where both sides entered the last group match having already qualified to the knockout stages, with the Turks at the top of Group E while Lazio in the second.
Back to Serie A Lazio will be looking to put an end to their slump and hope to start building momentum as they eye another European finish. The hosts will fancy their chances here as they have won six of their last 10 home matches, scoring two or more goals in six of their last 10 home matches. Also Lazio haven’t lost to Genoa in their last three meetings at Stadio Olimpico.
Meanwhile Genoa have made a poor campaign this season with the club claiming just one win from their 17 Serie A matches, drawing seven while have suffered nine defeats in the process. They currebtly sit in the relegation zone in the 18th on 10 points level on point with the 19th– placed Cagliari and two points adrift of safety.
The Rossoblu head into the match in a poor Serie A form as they haven’t won in any of their last 14 league matches and are coming off a three-match losing streak including the 3-1 loss to Sampdoria at home last Friday with Mattia Destro’s 78th-minute goal proving to be nothing but a consolation for the hosts.
However, Andriy Shevchenko’s side head into the match on the back of a narrow 1-0 success against Salernitana in the second round of the Coppa Italia at the Luigi Ferraris stadium on Tuesday. A second half goal from Caleb Ekuban was enough for Genoa to seal a place in the next round of the competition. The win was vital for Genoa who needed a confidence booster heading into the Friday’s clash.
Indeed, the visitors will keen to build on their Coppa Italia success as they aim at salvaging their sinking season, thus Genoa will be more desperate in this one. However, they will need to work on their away form as they haven’t won any of their last seven matches on the road
Lazio vs Genoa head to head
Both sides have met in 33 encounters since 1993 with Lazio claiming 16 wins while Genoa have claimed 11 wins and there have been six draws.
- Lazio 4-3 Genoa 02/05/21
- Genoa 1-1 Lazio 03/01/21
- Genoa 2-3 Lazio 23/03/20
- Lazio 4-0 Genoa 29/09/19
- Genoa 2-1 Lazio 17/02/19
Home
- Sassuolo 2-1 Lazio
- Lazio 0-0 Galatasaray
- Sampdoria 1-3 Lazio
- Lazio 3-3 Udinese
- Napoli 4-0 Lazio
Away
- Genoa 1-0 Salernitana
- Genoa 1-3 Sampdoria
- Juventus 2-0 Genoa
- Genoa 0-3 Milan
- Udinese 0-0 Genoa
Lazio team news
Lazio expect the return of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic following the end of his suspension while both Luis Alberto and Pedro make the doubt list.
Genoa team news
Genoa will be without Cassata, Fares, Rovella and Caicedo due o injuries.
Prediction and odds
- Lazio win
- Both sides to score
- Goals over 2.5
